This Shabbat, we read the portion of Chayei Sarah, the fifth Sidrah of Bereshit/Genesis, beginning with chapter 23. We are deeply immersed in the history of the patriarchal period. Despite the title of the portion, “Sarah’s Lifetime…,” the Sidrah opens with the death of the First Matriarch, Sarah, at age...
We are beginning just the third Sidrah/portion in the Torah this coming Shabbat, and we are already immersed in the formative history of the Jewish people. In the opening verse of this intense portion, Abram, our first forefather, receives his call from G-d Almighty. We know virtually nothing about the...
After three weeks of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, filled with major Jewish Holidays, we have finally arrived at the last, the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah. On this holiday we celebrate both the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning, once again, of reading the...
SHIR KI, our wonderful volunteer adult choir, will conclude the Rosh Hashanah service with a thrilling “VIRTUAL CHOIR PRESENTATION” of Hallelujah Psalm 150 by Louis Lewandowski. Choral singing has been a major element of Jewish worship since the First Temple in Jerusalem, built by King Solomon, 3000 years ago. The...
We are coming to the end of the Torah! The portion of Ki Tetze is the sixth Sidrah in Deuteronomy, the fifth and last book of the Torah. There are only five Sidrot left in Deuteronomy, and then we begin again from Genesis. I have stated earlier that the entire...
This week, we are reading Parashat R’eih, the fourth portion in Deuteronomy, the fifth and last book of the Torah. We are beginning to study the Third Discourse given by Moses to the children of Israel just prior to their entrance into the Promised Land. In this portion, Moses continues...
“V’Eileh Had’varim asher diber Moshe el Bnai Yisrael…” And these are the words that Moses addressed to Israel on the other side of the Jordan, through the wilderness…” The book of D’varim/Deuteromy begins with these words! With “words,” Moses our teacher begins his review of the history of the Israelite...
