Rabbi Shabbat Greetings

May 29, 2020 The first part of the portion of Parshat Naso (Numbers 4:21-5:31) (divided into two weeks when Shavuot occurs on Shabbat so that we can stay in sync with Diaspora…

May 15, 2020 The book of Leviticus concludes on this Shabbat in a double portion, Behar-Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34) by outlining the blessings that will follow if the people are faithful to their…

May 8, 2020 Here we are, finishing up the eighth week of our self-quarantine to protect both ourselves and so many around us. I know it has been challenging for…

May 1, 2020 Once again, this week’s Torah reading, Acharei Mot/Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27) is a double portion. In the second part, Kedoshim, we learn of two very powerful commands: “Love your neighbor as…

April 24, 2020 This week’s double portion, Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33), first speaks of the effect of childbirth as a state of ritual impurity and then moves into the medical issue of tzara’at, a…

April 17, 2020 We read in this week.s portion, Parshat Shemini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47), “Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what Adonai meant when God said, Through those near to…

April 10, 2020 On the Shabbat during Passover, we read the special portion from Exodus 33:12-34:26, and we are reminded of the age-old desire to know God. Moses implores God…

April 3, 2020 This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36), teaches us that the priests are charged with performing all the sacrificial duties in the Tabernacle. Only they have full access…

March 27, 2020 Today’s world finds the notion of sacrifices primitive, archaic and a form of Divine service that is no longer necessary. Yet to the ancient, biblical world, nothing…