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Friday Shabbat Shalom

Sukkot: The Power of Cooperation

Oct 14, 2022

Sukkot: The Power of Cooperation

I built my first sukkah when our three children were young. It would not have happened without the help of a friend named Kevin... We agreed to build two identical sukkot, with each of us helping the other, channeling a bit of Amish ethic.
Keep It Simple

Oct 7, 2022

Keep It Simple

You shall live in sukkot seven days; all citizens of Israel shall live in sukkot, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I, YHVH, your God. (Vayikra/ Leviticus 23:42-43)
Hurricanes, Hijabs & Yom Kippur

Sep 30, 2022

Hurricanes, Hijabs & Yom Kippur

Those of us living in Miami for a while could tell that the rain falling on Tuesday and Wednesday was no ordinary rain. We felt the barometric pressure in our bodies. We saw the gusts of wind, which we knew were “bands” on the outer edge of Hurricane Ian.
Children Are Our Shofars

Sep 23, 2022

Children Are Our Shofars

Why do the Rabbis feel it is important to know that creation happened on Rosh Hashanah? By linking the creation of the world in the macro sense, with our own personal stock-taking in the micro sense, we are all given the opportunity to understand our infinite potential as human beings and recreate ourselves anew year after year.
The Queen’s Legacy

Sep 16, 2022

The Queen’s Legacy

This Dvar Torah on Parashat Ki Tavo was written by the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom Ephraim Mirvis in tribute to the legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Our Struggle with Doubt

Sep 9, 2022

Our Struggle with Doubt

Moving against our nature, especially lifting ourselves beyond our natural impulses and desires, is a struggle, a fight with our “yetzer hara” or “evil inclination”. The Ramban tells us that this struggle to keep mitzvot is ultimately our method of refining our souls…
“Grow, Grow”

Sep 2, 2022

“Grow, Grow”

This week’s Torah portion (Parashat Shoftim) is a touchstone text within Jewish environmentalism, as it contains the commandment “not to destroy” trees in the field (“bal taschit”).
The Mind's Eye

Aug 26, 2022

The Mind's Eye

In the opening verse of this week's parsha, Re’eh, Moses speaks to the Jewish people and says: "See (re'eh), I have set before you today a blessing and a curse" (Devarim/ Deuteronomy 11:26). Why does the Torah present this information in terms of "seeing," when it would have made more sense to use the idea of "hearing"?
Motivated by Love of God

Aug 19, 2022

Motivated by Love of God

If you do as God tells you to do, then God will reward you. But that is only half of the story: if you don’t do what God tells you to do, God will punish you severely... As much as the rabbis try to mitigate the intensity of the portion with their various explanations of the title, it does not appear to be the loving portion we would prefer.
Shema, Listen, with the Intention of Hearing

Aug 12, 2022

Shema, Listen, with the Intention of Hearing

In this week’s Torah portion, Vaetchanan, Moses continues to deliver his final words to the Israelites, recalling the joys and the oys of their wilderness journey. Throughout the text the command to listen, Shema, is repeated on four different occasions...