Rabbi Shabbat Greetings

This Shabbat, we begin the cycle of the Torah reading once again with Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8). It is in this portion that we read of the first murder, when Cain…

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Is Shemini Atzeret a part of Sukkot or is it a distinctive holiday? One answer to this question can be found in its major liturgical distinction. On Shemini Atzeret, Jews…

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Sefer Kohelet (The Book of Ecclesiastes) might seem like an unlikely choice of books to associate with Sukkot, Z’man Simchateinu – the time of our rejoicing. It is at times…

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Shabbat Shuvah is upon us – this once a year Shabbat moment during these ten days of repentance.  This is the moment when we immerse ourselves in deep reflection, examining how…

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What was it like before the beginning of time? Time did have a beginning, both from the point of view of science and the point of view of religion. What…

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In his famous song, “My Way,” Frank Sinatra shares: And now the end is here; And so I face that final curtain, my friend I’ll make it clear. I’ll state my…

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In 1894, President Grover Cleveland followed the examples of Oregon, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York and declared the first Monday of September Labor Day, in celebration of those who…

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This Torah portion, Ki Tetze (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19) has the largest concentration of mitzvot  – commandments – of any portion; 74 out of the traditional 613 commandments are found in it. Of…

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Our journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in our Promised Land is an essential theme of our Torah. This collective memory shapes our liturgy, in prayers such as Mi…

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In this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17), Moses explains to the Jewish People: “See, I give you today a blessing and a curse”. (11:26) But why use the verb “SEE”? Why…

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