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 29, 2022 | Community, God, Happiness and Joy, Hebrew Language, Proverbs, Temple, Tests and Trials
The better hours of my adolescence were spent at Grateful Dead concerts. I made great friends and had a great time. But the main draw was, of course, the music. Tuned to the tempo of a heartbeat, the music was meant for slow dancing, swaying for hours. I loved...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 9, 2022 | Hebrew Language, Israel, Judges, Messiah, Naso, Redemption, Revelation and Prophecy
It is not common for someone to take a Nazirite vow in modern times. The most notable exception was Rabbi David Cohen who, like Samson, became a Nazirite for life. And both of these Nazirites have a role in redemption. Every week, the reading of the Torah portion in...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 6, 2022 | God, Hebrew Language, Humility, Modesty, Vayikra
The Hebrew names of the books of the Torah are named for the first word that appears in each book. The Hebrew name of the the book of Leviticus, therefore, is Vayikra (וַיִּקְרָא), which means “And he called.” This calling refers to God calling out to Moses from...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 2, 2022 | God, Hebrew Language, Pekudei, Temple
After the Tabernacle is fully assembled, God descends upon it in a cloud of glory: The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of Hashem filled the Mishkan. Exodus 40:34 The Hebrew word for ‘glory,’ kavod (כָּבוֹד), is perhaps more precisely translated as...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 17, 2022 | Fear of God, God, Hebrew Language, Ki Tisa, Prayer, Resurrection
There is no doubt that Moses was close to God, even speaking with Him “face to face, as one man speaks to another” (Exodus 33:11). But Moses wanted even more and requested, “Oh, let me behold Your Presence!” (33:18). God assented to His faithful servant’s request but...
