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וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ אֵת֩ כּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה Moses then recounted to his ...

“I am for climate change. I do not want the climate to be the same all the time.” Judah Friedlander – Comic. January sixteenth is Tu B’Shvat (the 15th of Shvat). Tu B’Shvat is called the birthday of trees, meaning the fruit of a tree that was formed prior to that date belong to the previous tithe year and cannot be tithed together with fruit that was formed after that date. The day has become a day to focus on ...

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה ע֣וֹד נֶ֤גַע אֶחָד֙ אָבִ֤יא ...

וְגַ֣ם  אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶֽת־נַאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר ...

Ancient Story – Contemporary Meaning The Exodus narrative that we begin reading about this week, is such a powerful story that it has been used as a model of inspiration to many freedom campaigns. Below are a few examples of why the Exodus saga has and continues to have such relevance. I provide them for you to ponder and think about in terms of your own social action work. On January 14, 1963, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel gave the ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

The second night of Hanukkah is very special as a few key elements of the Mitzvah of lighting the Hanukkah candles are realized on the second night. Technically speaking, one can fulfill the Mitzvah of Hanukkah candles by lighting one candle each night. Adding a candle each night is the fulfillment of what the Talmud calls “Mihadrin Min HaMihadrin (the most meticulous way to perform a Mitzvah). Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in a ...

“...we do not need these demonstrations as proofs, because the experience of God is the basis of certainty .” Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik וַיִּיקַ֣ץ יַעֲקֹב֮ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר ...