by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 9, 2022 | Elul, God, Marriage and Relationships, Mourning, Repentance, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Dani is a member of our small synagogue and every Shabbat, when we gather together after morning prayers, he jumps up and gives a speech on the weekly Torah portion. It isn’t nice to say, but his speeches drive me crazy. It always seems like...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 2, 2022 | Community, Covenant, Education, God, Israel, Leadership, Shoftim
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Since I was a young boy, I have loved reading books. I became intimately familiar with every book in my parents’ library, treating each like a dear friend. Each book had its special place on the shelf and the library, in its entirety,...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 28, 2022 | Elul, God, Prayer, Repentance, Rosh Hashana, Song of Songs, Tishrei, Yom Kippur
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Anticipation and preparation are two words I have always had difficulty with. In Yeshiva (Jewish school for Torah learning), my rabbi called me “do-ish.” I have a tendency to jump right in and figure things out as I go along....
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 22, 2022 | God, Happiness and Joy, Hebrew Language, Israel, Re’eih, Temple
One year ago, I fulfilled my lifelong dream and moved from the suburbs of New Jersey to the Land of Israel. We moved to the small town of Efrat, just outside of Bethlehem, trading our view of the local gas station and pizza shop in New Jersey for a view of the...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 19, 2022 | Eikev, God, Israel, Miracles
Once, I went out to the forest next to Bat Ayin to pray, or, more accurately, to have a conversation with my Creator. Israel is a beautiful place, especially if you have the eyes to see its inner beauty. As I sat there, I saw how the thorn bushes were struggling (and,...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 18, 2022 | Eikev, God, Gratitude
What if every holiday was Thanksgiving? What if instead of the Fourth of July we celebrated Thanksgiving? Memorial Day? Nope. Another Thanksgiving. New Year’s? Thanksgiving. When Moses is about to part from the people, he reminds them of everything God did for them...
