This has been a time of building up walls and of tearing them down. We have endured a prolonged period of enforced separation to protect us from the dangers of COVID. And many of us have had to tear down walls that were infected with mold spawned by floodwaters from Hurricane Ida. It is as Continue Reading »
There is a tense moment at the opening of this week’s Torah portion, Shemini. It has been only a year since the liberation of Israel from Egypt and nine months since our people arrived at Mount Sinai. Led by Moses and Aaron, the Israelites have received the Torah and labored to build the Tabernacle that Continue Reading »
Thanksgiving is a special time of the year where families and friends of all denominations join together to celebrate all the good things bestowed upon them. Last year, things were extremely different for most of us as we gathered in much smaller groups, curtailed the majority of travel plans, and, quite honestly, took the time Continue Reading »
This week’s Torah portion, Ki Teizei contains more laws than any other parashah in the Torah — 72, to be exact. The purpose was not to provide a code that the average Israelite would carry around to consult at any given moment; rather, it was to cultivate a certain sensibility, awareness, and attitude. Nowhere is Continue Reading »
In this week’s parashah, Moses teaches the Israelites a lesson that will be critical to their success as a nation. When you enter the Promised Land, he says, “you shall not act at all as we now act here, every person as he [or she] pleases.”(1) To build a healthy society, he says, everyone must sacrifice Continue Reading »
This Shabbat, the Shabbat preceding Tisha B’Av, is called Shabbat Chazon, named for the chazon, the vision of the Prophet Isaiah that is the Haftarah for this day. It is a dark and menacing vision of the impending doom the Israelites are bringing upon themselves. They are guilty of spiritual hypocrisy, says Isaiah, for they Continue Reading »
We are truly living through history. I suppose that may be true each day, but the events of the last 14 months are ones we will reflect upon for the rest of our lives and will surely retell to future generations of our families. I’m sure it is now obvious to all of us, that Continue Reading »
We are pleased to announce that we will begin welcoming congregants to in-person worship beginning June 11. Our re-opening task force has been monitoring Federal, State and County COVID data and guidelines, and work in close consultation with our medical professionals actively involved in the task force. Our objective is to come back together safely, Continue Reading »
Touched by an Angel Back in the cold winter months of 2021, a new day was just dawning in the fight against COVID, with the advent of the long-awaited COVID vaccines. But as we all know, it quickly became a huge exercise in frustration to get those elusive vaccine appointments. Enter the Vaccine Angels. The Continue Reading »
After a year of many deprivations, and much fear and anxiety, we come to a teaching in the Torah that prescribes a practice of self-denial. It is the path of the Nazirite, described in Parashat Naso, and it involves a spiritual exercise based in abstinence. Any Israelite could choose to embark on this practice by Continue Reading »
