by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 19, 2022 | Covenant, Faith, God, Israel, Mourning, Pinchas, Redemption, Temple
I was walking past a bulletin board and saw the strangest notice: “I lost it. I don’t know what it is or where it is. I’ve never actually seen it. Some people say that it doesn’t belong to me but I really love it. Whatever it is.” This sounds strange but we do it all...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 22, 2022 | Bechukotai, Community, Covenant, Faith, God, Temple
Agriculture in Israel is a joint venture in which God partners with the farmers. God promises that if the Jews are faithful to the Torah and keep the commandments, He will ensure that the rain will fall in its proper season and the land will yield its bounty. And just...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 4, 2022 | Community, Faith, Holiness, Justice, Leadership, Pekudei, Temple
The Tabernacle and all its components required large amounts of costly materials so, after its construction, Moses gave an accounting of materials that had been used (Exodus 38:21). This required that in addition to being a prophet, politician, judge, and social...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 24, 2022 | Faith, Holiness, Israel, Messiah, Mishpatim, Shabbat
The Shemittah comes every seven years, making it a form of Sabbath that occurs on a yearly, rather than a weekly, cycle. Observing the Shemittah acknowledges that the land of Israel belongs to the God of Israel. We work the land for six years, and on the seventh, we...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 10, 2022 | Beshalach, Faith, Gratitude, Nisan, Passover, Prayer, Redemption
After the Children of Israel passed through the Reed Sea, God closed the waters, wiping out the Egyptian army that was chasing them. The Hebrews celebrated by singing two songs; the first 18 verses of Exodus 15 make up the Song of the Sea, while the second song,...
by Rabbi Tuly Weisz | f 24, 2021 | Community, Faith, Isaiah
Christmas makes many Jews nervous, and for good reason! While for Christians, Christmas is a day to celebrate peace on earth, I grew up in a typical Jewish family and was taught not to even say, “Merry Christmas” because, throughout history, the holiday was used as an...