When our patriarch Jacob leaves Beersheba towards Haran, we are told he comes to a “place.” Various commentators explain that this was certainly a place of God. After Jacob dreams about a ladder upon which angels ascend and descend, he remarks, “Surely God is present in this place, and I did not know it!”
A Bisl Torah
Cultivating a Good Heart
This time of year, it is common to give thanks. Gratitude for the people in our lives and the blessings we receive.
Challah Prayers
This week was one of challah bakes. Communities around the world came together to mix ingredients, knead dough, and learn how to braid challah in complicated configurations. The incomparable and brilliant Ms. Heather Lipman led the Sinai Akiba Academy bake, an annual treat for the entire community. Before she offered the blessing for the separation of challah, Judaic Studies teacher Ms. Marcelle Kasheri taught an important and powerful lesson:
Stars and Sand
In this moment in time, it is difficult to imagine enduring much more. October 7th pummeled the heart of the Jewish people. Over the course of the year, we are no longer shocked by daily incidents of antisemitism. Pogroms in Amsterdam; terror threats in Thailand; desecration of Jewish businesses in Pico-Robertson. Jew-hatred exists everywhere and publicly showcasing our Judaism has become an act of courage and resistance.
Why Abraham?
It seems obvious why Noah was chosen to save his family from the flood. He was described in the Torah as being blameless within his generation. But there is no explanation given as to why Abraham was chosen as the patriarch of the Jewish people.
Expecting More
Growing up, my parents groaned if I used the excuse, “But everyone is doing it,” or “Everyone is going!” They made it clear that I did not belong to the club of “everyone.”
Dancing and Crying
Joy is embedded within the name of the final holiday: Simhat Torah. We end the reading of one cycle of Torah and begin reading the Torah over again. There is a feeling of elation knowing that we have the ability to witness a continuing, evolving Judaism. That through the turbulence and turmoil of the world, the practice of reading, studying, and living Torah survives. For that, we celebrate. For that, we dance.
A Bisl Sukkot – Fallen Sukkah, Resilient Spirit
Rabba Sara Hurwitz speaks about the surprising reference to the sukkah in the Birkat Hamazon, the blessing after the meal during the holiday of Sukkot. The blessing says, “May God establish for us the fallen sukkah of David.” She wonders why we reference the desire for a fallen sukkah. Isn’t that kind of request counter intuitive? Who wants to embody a fallen sukkah?
A Bisl Sukkot – Fallen Sukkah, Resilient Spirit
Rabba Sara Hurwitz speaks about the surprising reference to the sukkah in the Birkat Hamazon, the blessing after the meal during the holiday of Sukkot. The blessing says, “May God establish for us the fallen sukkah of David.” She wonders why we reference the desire for a fallen sukkah. Isn’t that kind of request counter intuitive? Who wants to embody a fallen sukkah?
Yom Kippur – What Do You See?
Wearing a tallit, a prayer shawl, on Kol Nidre is a confusing ritual.
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