by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 11, 2022 | Prayer, Va'etchanan
In the summer of 1914, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook – the future Chief Rabbi of British-controlled Palestine and one of the leading Rabbinic thinkers of modern times – was in Berlin, on his way to an important Rabbinic conference in Frankfurt. The conference...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 10, 2022 | Chosen Nation, Covenant, Devarim, God, Israel, Revelation and Prophecy
The annual month of reserve duty in the Israeli army brings together men from all segments of society who would typically not meet. But, since we are all dressed in green and depend on each other, we get along, accepting each other’s differences and accepting the duty...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 9, 2022 | Chosen Nation, Israel, Light Unto the Nations, Va'etchanan
God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or, alternatively, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. In fact, Jews are rare. Today, Jews represent a mere .2% of the world’s population. In the words of Mark Twain: If the...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 4, 2022 | Devarim, God, Ninth of Av, Repentance, Tests and Trials
Tisha B’Av is one of the most intense days of the Hebrew calendar. A three week build-up, which ends with nine days of austerity, culminates in this day of crying and mourning. Every year, just before Tisha B’Av, Jews around the world read the Torah portion of Devarim...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 2, 2022 | Devarim, Humility, Leadership, Responsibility
“Vote for me and get a free puppy!” Can you imagine a politician campaigning on that platform? But the fact is that many politicians campaign on promises that are not much better than that. Vote for me and I will give you free stuff. Vote for me and I will bring world...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 31, 2022 | Deuteronomy, Education
Anyone who has children knows that if you want them to learn something, telling them once is never enough. Singing the alphabet over and over, repeating math tables, and repeating mnemonics are all part of the learning process. They become so ingrained that they...
