by Rabbi Elie Mischel | f 27, 2023 | Ki Tavo, Kindness and Compassion, Rosh Hashana
Every year on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) morning, Rabbi Yeshaya of Kerestier (Hungary, 1851 – 1925) would seclude himself in his study for about 10 minutes before the blowing of the Shofar (ram’s horn). One year, one of his followers, who was curious to see how...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 24, 2023 | Fear of God, Psalms
As it happens so often, my little boy taught me a big lesson in how to relate to God. The other morning, we went food shopping and he put a package of his favorite candy into the cart. I picked it up and said I did not agree to buy the candy. “But you have to,” he...
by Mindy Rubenstein | f 23, 2023 | Repentance, Va'etchanan
Sixteen years ago, my husband and I–with our two toddlers–attended a beautiful Shabbat dinner with a rabbi and his family. Though I was born Jewish, I was brought up secular and had little connection to Judaism until then. At that meal I literally fell in...
by Mindy Rubenstein | f 22, 2023 | Joel, Repentance
I grew up secular: American first, Jewish by birth. No one in my circle of family or friends talked about God. Life as I knew it was about work, food and intellect. My extended family includes medical directors, college deans, lawyers, judges, scientists and...
by Mindy Rubenstein | f 17, 2023 | Elul, Repentance
My great-grandparents, Moshe and Kayla (Morris and Katy) Tanenbaum, for whom I am named, came from religious families in Ukraine and tried to preserve their Jewish life even in the U.S. Katy’s father, Fishel Rubin, was a rabbi and sent his daughter far away from the...
by Mindy Rubenstein | f 17, 2023 | Elul, Repentance
On the Jewish calendar, the Hebrew month of Elul begins tonight. This will be my second month of Elul in Israel. My family and I made Aliyah last September, two weeks before the High Holiday season. I was so excited and overwhelmed by the newness of our...
