by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 2, 2023 | Parenting, Shabbat, Vayechi
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Without a doubt, the sweetest part of the Sabbath is blessing my children. My children are older and no longer live at home. But when we do gather together at the end of a busy week, placing my hands on their bowed heads, invoking God’s...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 21, 2022 | Chanukah, Covenant, Faith, Mikeitz, Mourning
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Many scholars place Joseph’s descent to Egypt at around 1500 BCE. The Maccabees dedicated the Temple in year 165 BCE. These two events were separated by more than one thousand years and seem entirely disconnected, but the Torah portion that...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 8, 2022 | Israel
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Learning Torah with my ten-year-old son is a challenging experience. He asks the obvious questions that are disturbingly difficult to answer. “Abba, did God promise all of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?” he asked. “You know he did,” I...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 4, 2022 | God, Holiness, Israel, Resurrection, Vayishlach
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz The Biblical account of Jacob’s first encounter with God is an amazing story. He dreams of a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending the ladder. Understandably shaken, Jacob declares that the site where the...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 1, 2022 | Marriage and Relationships, Responsibility, Tests and Trials, Vayeitzei
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz I once went to a distant town and needed to stay at a hotel. I found one possible location and entered. I approached the front desk and asked the clerk, “How much does it cost to stay here for the night.” He smiled and answered, “Oh, we have...
