Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | December 12, 2025

This week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23), begins the long and painful story of Joseph and his brothers. It is a portion filled with darkness through jealousy, betrayal, loss, and confusion. Joseph is…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | December 5, 2025

This week’s Torah portion, Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43), tells the dramatic story of Jacob’s return to the land of Canaan after 20 years of exile. The story is full of tension, struggle, and…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | November 28, 2025

As we move past Thanksgiving, many of us open our refrigerators to a familiar sight: containers of leftovers—bits of turkey, stuffing, vegetables, pies. Some are delicious; some make us wonder…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | November 21, 2025

This week we read Toledot(Genesis 25:19-28:9), a portion filled with the complicated stories of family and of blessings, misunderstandings, challenges, and the hope that we can grow into the people we…

Religious School Fundraiser

By templenjAF | November 19, 2025

Treat yourself and support our Religious School! We’re selling delicious Krispy Kreme donuts for just $19 per dozen — with your choice of:– Original Glazed– Chocolate Iced– Glazed Raspberry Filled– Kreme Filled Place your order here by Sunday, December 14. Pick…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | November 14, 2025

In the portion, Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18), we encounter a striking paradox. The portion begins with Sarah’s death, yet it’s called “The Life of Sarah.” The Torah teaches us that the righteous live on, not…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | November 7, 2025

This week’s Torah portion, Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24), opens with a simple but profound image: “And the Eternal appeared to Abraham as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | October 31, 2025

In our Torah portion this week, Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27), God calls to Avram: “Go forth from your land, your birthplace, and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.”…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | October 24, 2025

The lesson we learn in this week’s portion, Noach (Genesis 6:9 – 11:32), as we encounter a world engulfed in corruption and violence. The Torah tells us: “The earth became corrupt before…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | October 17, 2025

This week’s Torah portion, Bereishit (Genesis 1:1 – 6:8), marks the beginning of the Torah, the beginning of everything. It is a story of creation, of separation, and of longing for repair. We…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | October 10, 2025

This Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot brings together two great thoughts — the calm embrace of Shabbat and the radiant joy of Z’man Simchateinu, the Season of our Rejoicing. The Midrash teaches that the…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | October 3, 2025

Our Torah portion for this Shabbat, Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52) begins with a dramatic proclamation: “Give ear, O heavens, let me speak; let the earth hear the words I utter!”( 32:1) Moses, at the…