Rabbi Shabbat Greetings

GOD MAKES MISTAKES?!  The Creator of the Universe makes MISTAKES?  The Law Giver, the Divine Judge, the Ruler of the World, supposedly perfect in every way, MAKES MISTAKES? But then, when…

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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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