J Blog

Dear Friends, Welcome to the very first edition of the J's Family Corner! We will use this space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). Each week we will offer a summary of the weekly portion as well as videos, crafts, a brief thought, a book recommendation from PJ Library and more. We hope you enjoy! Parsha Summary – Parshat Chayei Sara Abraham purchases the ...

Abraham is depicted as a person committed to kindness, specifically welcoming in guests. A closer look at Abraham's actions sheds light just how far reaching this Mitzvah is. There are also profound lessons here in the realm of social justice. This week’s Torah portion begins with the story of God visiting Abraham. As if a visit from God is not strange enough, what happens next really takes us by surprise. While Abraham is visiting with ...

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ ...

Does the Torah support guaranteed work? While it is hard to answer affirmatively to this question, what is clear is that work is valued in the Torah as a source of dignity. As such, we should build a society that provides work for all those who are willing to work. וַתָּבֹ֨א אֵלָ֤יו ...

One of the grand ideas presented in the Torah is that humanity is created in God’s image. וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ ...

We are coming close to the end of the yearly cycle of reading the Torah. We will finish it, but can we complete it? תּוֹרָ֥ה צִוָּה־לָ֖נוּ מֹשֶׁ֑ה מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה קְהִלַּ֥ת ...

יַעֲרֹ֤ף כַּמָּטָר֙ לִקְחִ֔י - תִּזַּ֥ל כַּטַּ֖ל אִמְרָתִ֑י - ...

Are you looking for a meaningful rainy day activity with your kids? This could be a perfect time to explain Tashlich to them! What is Tashlich? Traditionally on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, (or, if one cannot get to it then, it can be done until Hoshannah Rabbah - this year Sept. 27th) Jews gather at a body of water to symbolically throw their sins into the depths of the sea by throwing pieces of bread into the water. This article offers ...

This shabbat marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. It is an opportunity to consider one of the outcomes of that very hard time. This Dvar Torah is dedicated to all of those who lost their lives on that terrible day. This week’s Torah portion, VaYeilech, includes the Mitzvha of Hakel. הַקְהֵ֣ל ...