Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | October 7, 2022

The next to last portion in the Book of Deuteronomy, Haazinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52) consists of the poetic song that Moses sings to the people of Israel before he delivers his deathbed blessing.…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | September 30, 2022

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayelech (Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30), we are told (31:22): “That day, Moses wrote down this poem and taught it to the Israelites.” This may surprise some readers who have…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | September 23, 2022

This week’s portion, Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20), is always read right before the New Year. It is the first of the last four Torah portions left in our Torah. After the lengthy…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | September 16, 2022

This week, in Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8), we read about how Moses organizes a Rock Concert-like extravaganza, putting some the people on Mount Gerizim, whom we are told will “stand for…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | September 9, 2022

“For this to Me is like the waters of Noah: As I swore that the waters of Noah nevermore would flood the earth, So I swear that I will not…

Caring Committee Scholarship

By templenjAF | September 5, 2022

Temple Shalom Caring Committee Scholarship  SCHOLARSHIP RULES AND GUIDELINES 1 award of $500 Open to all Temple members and their dependents To be eligible, the applicant must be enrolled in…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | September 2, 2022

This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) opens with the injunction of setting judges and officers within your gates.  The proximity of this portion to the month of Elul has given way to…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | August 26, 2022

We are slowly working our way to the end of Deuteronomy and the end of summer. Unlike the past few weeks, no major events – rather, a list of laws,…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | August 19, 2022

The notion of imagining how life will be and then living that reality is actually found in the Torah in this week’s portion, Eikev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25). We read how Moses…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | August 12, 2022

The Sabbath after Tisha B’Av, the date commemorating the destruction of the 1st Temple and all other calamities in Judaism (it happened this past Sunday), is known as “Shabbat Nachamu,” the “Shabbat of consolation.” This name…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | August 5, 2022

How long should a journey take?  That is a question I want to pose for this week’s Torah portion, Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22), in which the Israelites are poised between ending…

Shabbat Greetings

By templenjAF | July 29, 2022

It’s like clockwork: every year we reach these verses at the start of Matot-Masei (Numbers 30:2-36:13) precisely as my high holiday preparations kick into high gear. It’s July. It’s summer. I…