18 Iyar 5781 – 33rd Day of the Omer
April 30, 2021 As a product of our Reform camping system, I have had since childhood a fascination and a fondness for archery. One of my earliest memories, probably from…
11 Iyar 5781
April 23, 2021 I learned this joke many years ago as I was studying the nuances of the Yiddish language: Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin, had just died and the communist…
4 Iyar 5781
April 16, 2021 This week’s double Torah reading of Tazria and Metzorah (Leviticus 12:1-15:33) run high on the “least favorite portions of the year” list. They talk in detail about…
27 Nisan 5781
April 9, 2021 Our Torah reading this week contains one of the most infamous stories in the Torah, the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu in Parashat Shemini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47).…
20 Nisan 5781
April 2, 2021 This Shabbat, we celebrate the end of Passover as well as remember our loved ones with Yizkor tomorrow morning. One of the texts we read at the…
13 Nisan 5781
March 26, 2021 As we prepare for Passover tomorrow night, for this Shabbat, we read Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36). On the night of the first Passover, when the Children of Israel were…
6 Nisan 5781
March 19, 2021 This Shabbat, we begin the book of Leviticus, or Vayikra in Hebrew. And most conveniently, our first portion is also called Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26). And to be sure, this is about…
28 Adar 5781
March 12, 2021 We need to name it. It’s a little scary out there right now. The fear that some are feeling as we slowly attempt to move forward towards…
21 Adar 5781
March 5, 2021 HAPPY SHABBAT PARAH! Wait?! What?! What is Shabbat Parah you ask? This Shabbat we read Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35), plus an additional selection for Shabbat Parah. These readings…
14 Adar 5781
February 26, 2021 CHAG SAMEACH! and HAPPY PURIM! It is hard to believe that we have been living with the pandemic for a full year. The Coronavirus first hit our…
7 Adar 5781
February 19, 2021 As a student of mathematics, sometimes I like to play with numbers. I hear stories about the declining religiosity of Americans, mostly from parents who are concerned…
30 Shevat 5781
February 12, 2021 On Sunday, some will celebrate the holiday of roses and candy hearts. Even though Valentine’s Day got its start as a Christian liturgical celebration, this week’s Torah…