The Miracle of Faith

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 6, 2023 | Chanukah, Faith

Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday celebrating the Jewish victory over their Syrian-Greek oppressors during the Second Temple period and commemorating the miracle of oil that accompanied the rededication of the Temple following the victory. The miracle occurred when a...

Are we Living the Gog U’Magog War?

by Rabbi Elie Mischel | f 4, 2023 | Antisemitism, Ezekiel, Redemption

This is not business as usual. Though Israel has fought many small wars against Hamas, everyone understands that the current war is different. After Hamas slaughtered 1,200 innocent Israelis on October 7, nations throughout the world immediately felt the...

In the Footsteps of the Forefathers

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 29, 2023 | Israel, Lech Lecha, Toldot, Vayeitzei, Vayishlach

At the age of seventy-five, Abraham encounters God for the very first time. In this seminal moment, God commands him to leave his family and all that is familiar to him and embark on a journey to an unspecified land. With a faith that would define his legacy, Abraham...

The Paradox of Trusting God

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 27, 2023 | Faith, Psalms

King Solomon instructs us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5). We find ourselves repeating that mantra in good times and, especially, in bad times. But what exactly does it mean to have trust in God? Are we supposed to believe that...

A Psalm for Thanksgiving

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 23, 2023 | Gratitude, Psalms

In the autumn of 1621, a group of Pilgrims and Native Americans gathered to celebrate an event that would become a cornerstone of American tradition: the first Thanksgiving. Led by William Bradford, the Governor of the Plymouth Colony and leader of the Mayflower...

Jacob’s Vow: Opting Into God’s Plan

by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 22, 2023 | Covenant, Vayeitzei

At the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3), we find Jacob on the run after leaving home in the wake of the events surrounding his acquisition of his father’s blessings. Jacob’s brother, Esau, vowed to kill Jacob after the death of...