TT: FROM THE PULPIT | FEBRUARY 5
02/06/2023 10:30:42 AM
Yesterday, Jewish people around the world celebrated Shabbat Shirah, the Shabbat of Song, in honor of the song the Israelites sang when they crossed the sea and escaped from slavery to freedom. But when the Israelites leave Egypt, we learn that God leads Israelites on a roundabout path by the sea, rather than a more direct route in order to avoid the Philistines (Exodus 13:17-18). Why did God lead them on this winding path, we often...Read more...
TEMPLE TALK | JANUARY 27 & 28
01/31/2023 01:04:13 PM
Our Torah portion this week covers the final three plagues: Locust, Darkness, and the death of the firstborn; along with the story of Passover, what the Israelites should do to avoid the final plague, and how they should continue celebrating at this time of year in perpetuity. As we learn about plagues and God hardening Pharaoh’s heart and performing acts of wonder to display “My signs among them” (Ex 10:1) we brush against some very...Read more...
TEMPLE TALK | JANUARY 20
01/27/2023 11:31:07 AM
I have always asked questions. As I was growing up, my parents were more likely to ask “did you ask good questions?” than “how was school today?” when I came home from school. I remember being eager to be the one to ask the Four Questions at the Seder. It didn’t take long before I figured out that the answers to my questions would be determined to some extent by who I asked or to notice that some people always...Read more...
TEMPLE TALK | JAnuary 13 & 14
01/19/2023 09:30:18 AM
In this week’s Torah portion, Shemot, we begin the book of Exodus and learn about the courageous actions of Shifra and Puah, the midwives who defied Pharoah and saved the Israelite babies. When we think about these women, I often think about what courage it must have taken for these women to be guided by a sense of what we call in Mussar practice, ometz lev, courage of the heart, and do what their hearts called them to...Read more...
TEMPLE TALK | JANUARY 6
01/12/2023 12:17:20 PM
Each week, we have the opportunity to bless our children on Shabbat. The roots of this blessing come from this week's Torah portion, Parshat Vayechi, where Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. What if we took the idea of blessing our children and extended it -- offering blessings to all those around us? When Jacob blesses both of Joseph's sons, we are reminded that there are more than enough blessings to go...Read more...