Love and Brotherhood in the Temple’s Legacy

by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 9, 2023 | Psalms, Temple

David set the stage for the building of the Temple by purchasing the mountaintop threshing floor that became the location of the Temple that was built by his son, Solomon. As explained in a previous article, the location was chosen because of the brotherly love...

Divine Matchmaking

by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 6, 2023 | Marriage and Relationships, Psalms

It is hard to count the number of times the following scenario occurred to me: I am waiting for a bus, just sitting and minding my business. An older woman sits beside me and asks where I am going. This is followed by other questions like where I am from, if I have...

The Portion of Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52)

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 11, 2023 | God, Good and Evil, Ha'azinu, Responsibility

The portion of Ha’azinu contains the song mentioned in the previous Torah portion (Vayeilech), which God told Moses to teach the Children of Israel so they would always understand the consequences of their actions. It ends with Moses preparing to die before the people...

The Portion of Masei (Numbers 33:1-36:13)

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 11, 2023 | Community, Israel, Masei

In this Torah portion, the final portion in the book of Numbers, we review the journeys made by the Israelites in the desert and learn about the plan for their arrival in the Holy Land, including the division of the land. Finally, we return to the story of the...

The Portion of Metzorah (Leviticus 14:1-15:33)

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 9, 2023 | Holiness, Israel, Metzorah, Purity, Repentance

This week’s Torah portion describes the purification of a recovered metzora, or leper, by the priest through a specific procedure involving two birds, spring water stored in an earthen vessel, a piece of cedar wood, a scarlet thread, and a bundle of hyssop. Tzaraat,...

The Portion of Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38)

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 9, 2023 | Pekudei, Temple

This week’s portion is often read together with the previous portion, Vayakhel. Besides the mathematical inevitability of some years having an extra Saturday, Jewish tradition prescribes a leap month be added seven times over a 19-year cycle so that Passover always...