As Cantor Michaeli shared in this space just last week, we are currently in the period of the Counting of the Omer, during which many Jewish people count each day Continue Reading »
Parashat Shemini opens with Moses’ instruction to Aaron and his sons to bring offerings to the sanctuary as atonement for any sins that they or the people have committed. Aaron Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Shabbat Shalom. I’m back from the first part of my sabbatical and feel recharged and re-energized for the year ahead. Thank you to our congregation for allowing the Continue Reading »
Last week we read the dramatic story of the giving of the Ten Commandments. There were thunder and fire and God’s voice booming from the mountain top. Good movies come Continue Reading »
In this week’s Torah portion, Beshalach, music is the highlight of our story. After the sea splits and the Israelites are on the other side, we read, “Az yashir Moshe Continue Reading »
Parshat Bo’s name is confusing. As the stage is set for the eighth plague, locusts, God calls on Moses to go (again) to Pharaoh and demand the people’s freedom. But Continue Reading »
This week’s Torah portion is the second in the Book of Exodus. In Parashat Va’era God tells Moses that the time has come to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Continue Reading »
When God calls on Moses to go back to Egypt and free the Israelites from bondage, Moses famously tries to refuse. Every time I read this story, I am astounded Continue Reading »
Every Torah portion is named after its first significant word, and every name conveys something important about the portion. Sometimes the name comes from the literal first word of the Continue Reading »
This past week, all of us were shocked by yet another assassination of a political leader: Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist who galvanized millions of people and had a Continue Reading »
