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וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ יהוה God spoke to Moses, saying: דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ Speak to Aaron and say to him: "When you light the lamps, ...

What is going on here? וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ God spoke to Moses, saying: דַּבֵּר֮ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ אִ֣ישׁ אֽוֹ־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּ֤י יַעֲשׂוּ֙ מִכּל־חַטֹּ֣את הָֽאָדָ֔ם לִמְעֹ֥ל מַ֖עַל בַּיהֹוָ֑ה וְאָֽשְׁמָ֖ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִֽוא׃ Speak to the ...

אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֖י תֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִצְותַ֣י תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ ...

Dear Friends, These are religious / spiritual reflections on the terrible events in Uvalde, Texas. I offer them as a framework for how to think about this horrific loss of life. Others, better suited than me, can offer opinions related to policy and politics. Below is a theological response and my way of expressing the overwhelming sadness that I feel. If you are crying, I am crying with you. If you are angry, I am angry right along your ...

This week, we will focus on the Haftorah (the weekly reading form the Prophets). I dedicate this Dvar Torah to my father who always “showed up” and had a knack for knowing what was really important. The connection between the Torah reading and the Haftorah is evident in that both deal with the service performed by the Kohanim in the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). However, an interesting difference between the two has been pointed out by ...

I got a message (as part of a WhatsApp group) this week from a Rabbinic colleague asking for leads for a High Holiday Soloist! Yes, you heard right…the Rabbis are already planning for the High Holidays! This is how Rabbis live…always living six months ahead of time. In that spirit, I am happy to share this Torah thought that relates to Yom Kippur…but that also provides a really nice message for any time of the year. This ...

The J will be participating in a community organized medical supply drive for the Ukraine Invasion. Between May 1-31, you can drop off requested supplies in our main lobby. All supplies benefit Medical Bridges, an NGO dedicated to helping communities have access to quality healthcare. Please see below for a list of requested supplies. All supplies can be dropped off in our donation box located in the lobby of the Main J. Ukraine Medical ...

The work of My hands drowning at sea, and you wish to sing songs? (Tal. Bavli Meg. 10b) I find myself anticipating Pesach with mixed emotions this year. One the one hand, after two very unusual Pesach celebrations, for many, our Pesach tables will, once again, look the way we remember them. We will be surrounded by loved ones, enjoying the company of people we have missed at this highlight of the Jewish year. There will be great joy! Over ...

This Shabbat - the Shabaat before Pesach is called “Shabbat Hagadol” - the Great Shabbat. There are numerous explanations as to why the Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat Hagadol. According to some, it was because God inhibited the Egyptians from harming the Jews after they were told that the Jews were going to slaughter a lamb as a sacrifice, the lamb being revered by Egyptians as deity. Others teach that the Shabbat got ...

וְהַצָּר֜וּעַ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֣וֹ הַנֶּ֗גַע בְּגָדָ֞יו יִהְי֤וּ פְרֻמִים֙ ...