by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 1, 2022 | Holiness, Israel, Pekudei, Temple
After the sin of the Golden Calf, the tribe of Levi is chosen to serve in the Temple instead of the firstborn as they did not participate in the sin. Aaron is chosen to be the High Priest, and Moses anoints his brother and his brother’s sons. With this, the...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 13, 2022 | Adar, Community, Israel, Ki Tisa, Temple
In the beginning of the Torah portion of Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35), God commands the Children of Israel to take a census by collecting a silver half-shekel from every male over the age of 20. What is the meaning of half shekel in the Bible? The half shekel is a...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 26, 2021 | Messiah, Vayeishev
The narrative of Joseph’s descent into Egypt is put aside for one chapter as the Torah relates the unusual story of the levirate marriage between Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar. This unusual union resulted in twins and, similar to Jacob and Esau, the twins...
by Mordi Levi | f 25, 2021 | Kindness and Compassion, Messiah, Ruth
According to one of the Sages, the Book of Ruth was written in order to teach the great reward for doing acts of kindness. Kindness is a point of pride amongst the Jewish people, the hallmark of Abraham and something that every Jew must aspire to. In fact, Maimonides...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 10, 2017 | Community, Israel
On December 28, 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry laid out his vision to achieve a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. In his fourth of six points, Kerry argued for “an agreed resolution for Jerusalem as the internationally recognized capital of the...
