The Power and Permanence of Evil Speech

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 14, 2023 | Psalms

By Shira Schechter There is a Hasidic tale about a man who went about the community telling malicious lies about the rabbi. Later, he realized the wrong he had done, and began to feel remorse. He went to the rabbi and begged his forgiveness, saying he would do...

Why Do Enemies Unite Against Israel?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 27, 2022 | Antisemitism, Community, Good and Evil, Psalms

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz When I rode a motorcycle in New York, I used to hang out at bars that catered to a very rough crowd. It amazed me that biker gangs made no attempt to hide their identity and affiliations. They wore their ‘colors’ with pride on the back of...

What is so bad about slandering a land?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 23, 2022 | God, Israel, Naso

Imagine you walk into a room full of people and as soon as you step in, everybody stops talking and looks directly at you. How does that make you feel, knowing that they were obviously talking about you, saying things they knew you wouldn’t want to hear? Sure,...

Are Children Worth the Bother?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 15, 2022 | Beha'alotcha, Marriage and Relationships, Parenting

Whenever I get into theological discussions with clergy of any faith, I always make the claim that God created man, and remains involved in our lives, because of our children. Though it may not be the final word in any religious debate, it always draws a few moments...

Understanding the Healing Process for a “Leper”

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 8, 2022 | Community, Free Will, Metzorah, Temple

The healing process for tzaraat (a spiritual malady frequently mistranslated as leprosy) requires a series of sacrifices in the Temple. Two live birds are brought to the priest. Springwater is placed in an earthenware vessel, over which one of the birds (traditionally...