By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
September 20, 2024
Rabbi Shmuel Salanter would often be bombarded with questions of Jewish law and other matters concerning personal problems. His family became frustrated and told him that he must set aside special hours for receiving the public in order that he would have time for himself to rest.
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
September 13, 2024
Once again, we have commemorated 9/11. 23 years. While each commemoration is unique, this year is it hard to imagine marking this day in the midst of a post-October 7th year.
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
September 6, 2024
Last night, 1,000 people gathered in front of Beverly Hills City Hall for a powerful vigil to both bring memory to the six hostages murdered by Hamas, in the shiva period for those precious families, and a reminder that we must continue to use our voices and our actions to ensure the remaining hostages come home.
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
August 30, 2024
There is a debate as to what we receive from performing a mitzvah. We learn that the reward of a mitzvah is the ability to perform another mitzvah. And yet, we learn in Pirkei Avot, “The reward for a mitzvah is the mitzvah itself.”
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
August 23, 2024
Our taste buds change over time. Be it different delicacies that exist where you live and where you move throughout your life, your social circles of where you eat, or the will to try new things, we change what we eat and what we like.
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
August 16, 2024
During the Yizkor service that we recite four times a year, on each pilgrimage festival along with Yom Kippur, the cantor chants the words from Isaiah, “Grass withers, flowers fade, when God’s breath blows on them, indeed, people are but grass.”
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
August 12, 2024
As we begin the last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, Moses begins recounting the journeys of the Jewish people. In the first verse, he mentions specific locations along the way. Rashi notices it is at these places in which the Israelites rebelled against God.
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
August 2, 2024
The three weeks before Tisha B’Av are known as ben hamtzarim, translated literally as, “Between the narrow straits.” The letters of metzarim are the same letters as mitzrayim, Egypt, which represents our deepest troubles in our history: generations enslaved.
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
July 26, 2024
A rabbi must be proficient in speaking to different audiences. A bar mitzvah charge looks different than a wedding address. Teaching a Torah class is distinct from speaking to a group of a different faith.
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By Rabbi Erez Sherman on
July 19, 2024
We woke up to the news of a Houthi drone strike in the middle of the night in Downtown Tel Aviv. The explosion was heard around the city and beachgoers captured the footage on cell phones.
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