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Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha we encounter themes of helping the less fortunate, standing up to tyranny, overcoming challenges, Jewish Pride, Standing up to bullies Parsha Summary The new king of Egypt makes slaves of the Hebrews and orders their male children to be drowned in the Nile River. (1:1-22) A ...

What lasting message are we left with as we complete the book of Bereishit? We can take a hint from the introduction to Jacob’s blessing of his sons. הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha we encounter themes of faith, taking responsibility, reconciliation (making up), respect for the dead, blessing people. Parsha Summary Jacob blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh. (48:1-20) Jacob's twelve sons gather around his deathbed, and each receives an evaluation and ...

In this parashah, Judah demonstrates true - Teshuva, repentance and change of character. He was the one who convinced his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:25–27) in order to rid the brothers of their father’s favorite son and make some money. In this week’s parsha, facing the possibility that Jacob’s second favorite son will be imprisoned, Judah selflessly offers to stay in Benjamin's place. Judah has ...

The J Meals on Wheels program delivers more than 420 hot lunches to homebound seniors Monday-Friday. Through several generous donations, the J was able to increase the number of vehicles from three to four Meals on Wheels trucks. With this additional truck, the program is able to increase total clients served and reduce the waitlist. Homebound seniors need help with food, now more than ever. We have opportunities for volunteers in the community ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha we encounter themes of keeping your word, prayer when concern arises, unity (community), people can change, and always being open to learning. Parsha Summary Judah pleads with Joseph to free Benjamin and offers himself as a replacement. (44:18-34) Joseph reveals himself to his ...

The Koren Tanakh Maalot - Magerman Edition Rabbi Jonathan Sacks / Koren Publishers Jerusalem 2021 Reviewed by Rabbi Barry Gelman A Jewish library is essential for every Jewish home, and a Tanakh (complete Bible) should be high on the list of books to have. The Magerman Edition of the Tanakh published by Koren is a great choice for your home library. This review will examine a few of the excellent elements of this newly published volume. ...

There are lots of things I love about Hanukkah. Each night as our family gathers to light the Hanukkah candles, I am struck by the opportunity to share our faith and pride with the outside world by lighting our candles outside on our front porch and in the window facing the street. As Rabbi David Hartman put it: “In lighting the Hanukkah lamp, the Jew announces to the outside world: “This is my flame. Gaze on this light and know ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha we encounter themes of remorse, dreams, crediting God with our good fortune, taking action to help ourselves. Parsha Summary Joseph interprets Pharaoh's two dreams and predicts seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. (41:1-32) Pharaoh places Joseph in charge ...

There are many styles of yoga. Visualize yoga as a tree, each branch of that yoga tree is representing a different style of yoga. You may have noticed, the more popular yoga has become, the more styles have sprung up. Just recently I was asked, what I would call my style of yoga. I had to pause and think a bit, because in the decades of teaching I have experienced many different styles of yoga, but I have never followed a ...