By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
March 24, 2025
After the incident of the golden calf, the children of Israel are anxious to reconcile with God. Their immediate inclination is to help build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, with as many beautiful items as possible. The Torah explains that each person’s heart was moved to give and give they did.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
March 13, 2025
Some people are Purim People. They enjoy spontaneity. Purim people read the story, page by page, excitedly experiencing the twists and turns of each presented character. Likewise, in their own lives, Purim people find joy in the unexpected; the wonderment that accompanies surprise, not knowing who you might meet with each waking day. Purim people love noise, laughter, costumes, and silliness. These are people that can see the light of the sun even during the darkest of days.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
March 6, 2025
The Jewish calendar beckons adults and children alike to start choosing their costumes. As Purim is around the corner, Amazon carts fill with masks, capes, wands, and crowns. Purim is a holiday of surprise, a reminder that what we expect might completely be upside down by the end of the night. It’s a holiday where for a few hours, you can choose to be anyone or anything.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
February 28, 2025
These past weeks have brought intense and brutal heartache to the Jewish people. This week, Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsahi Idan were returned from captivity in Gaza, having been murdered by Hamas.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
February 21, 2025
This week marks the fifth yahrzeit of my friend and colleague, Rabbi Fred Elias. To mark this milestone, I reunited with several classmates at the Jewish Theological Seminary for a morning of memorializing, reflection, and learning.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
February 14, 2025
How often do we hear someone utter to themselves or casually remark, “I swear it’s true” – without taking the time to verify the veracity of their statements?
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
February 7, 2025
In the Exodus story, the sea splitting is considered one of the greatest miracles of all time. While at first Pharaoh tells the Jews to leave Egypt, he predictably changes his mind, and the Egyptians race to annihilate the Hebrew slaves. The slaves flee, only to face what seems like an endless floor of water and despair. How will they possibly reach the promise of freedom?
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
January 30, 2025
As Pharaoh’s heart hardens, God continues to prove God’s existence and subsequently, God’s strength. Plagues are unleashed and God’s signs ultimately convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrew slaves leave Egypt.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
January 23, 2025
The Torah reveals an uplifting message from God: God will redeem the Hebrew slaves from their misery! But as Moses relays the miraculous news, the Hebrew slaves essentially ignore his announcement. The news for which they awaited fell on deaf ears.
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By Rabbi Nicole Guzik on
January 17, 2025
I have a feeling that Angelenos have met more tzadikim, more righteous people, this week than perhaps ever before. Maimonides, the great Jewish philosopher, teaches that any human being can strive to be as righteous as Moses. We have within each one of us the capacity to be wise, merciful, and generous. It isn’t a matter of finding the righteous. It is a matter of choosing to be righteous.
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