AM YISRAEL AND ERETZ YISRAEL IN MUSIC: SHABBAT EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 2024 at 7pm This coming Shabbat, we read Vayeira, the fourth Sidrah in Bereshit/Genesis. The beginning Torah portions are packed with formative and dramatic events in the early history of the Jewish people, and this week’s Sidrah describes events...
Dear Members of our beloved Keneseth Israel Family, Last week, I told Rabbi David and Cantor Levy that I shall retire as music director of SHIR KI in May 2025. Our 14 years together have been so wonderful, meaningful, and inspiring for me and, I pray, for you!! Ellen and...
We have finally reached the dramatic end of our fall High Holidays/Sukkot season. We begin the celebration of Sukkot on Wednesday evening, October 16. The Sukkot Holiday commemorates the temporary booths that the Israelites erected as shelters on the bank of the Sea of Reeds/Yam Suf, waiting for the splitting...
Moses is in the middle of his last address to the Israelite nation. He is aware of the conclusion of his life’s work and his imminent death. He tells the people: “You stand this day, all of you, before the Eternal your G-d: all the men of Israel; you children,...
Parashat Shoftim: Magistrates and Officials. New High Holy Day Songs. “Hush of Midnight” at KI and AJ Selichot Service: Saturday evening, September 28th The Israelites are about to enter the Promised Land after the completion of their 40 years of wandering in the desert. Moses presents his Third Discourse to...
MOSES PLEADS TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND. THE SECOND DISCOURSE, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND SH’MA YISRAEl. TISHA B’AV This week’s portion is incredibly consequential for Moses, for B’nai Yisrael, and for all of us. We are in the middle of Moses’ First Discourse as he reviews the history and laws...
The Torah Communicates Jewish Truths in So Many Different Ways. More Thoughts on our Children in Jewish Summer Camps When Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses our Teacher, presented the Torah to the Jewish people, he gave us a document filled with so many different kinds of teachings and literary styles! Moses and...
The Israelites Begin the March to the Promised Land, and Our Children and Grandchildren Begin their March to Summer Camps As we begin B’haalot’cha, the third portion of B’Midbar/Numbers, the Israelites are camped at the foot of Mount Sinai for a full year after G-d Almighty had given the Torah...
Public Reading of Megilat Haatzmaut-Israel’s Declaration of Independence This Shabbat, we read the Torah Portion of EMOR, the eighth portion in the book of Vayikra/Leviticus, 21:1–24:23. The Israelites are in the middle of their wandering in the Sinai Desert on their 40-year journey to the Promised Land. The second section...
This coming Shabbat, the Shabbat immediately preceding Passover is called SHABBAT HAGADOL, the Great Sabbath. Rabbis traditionally deliver long sermons about the laws of Passover, what is kosher and what is not, how our behaviors change during the Passover festival, how we should conduct our Sedarim (plural of Seder), and...
