The Book of Exodus is primarily spent on the Israelites’ journey into slavery and the transformation of this tribe into a Jewish people with God’s revelation at Mount Sinai.
Honorable Mensch-ion
Circles
What circle are you a part of? I ask this question each year to graduating high school seniors. By this time in their lives, they are a part of many circles: The family, the synagogue, the community, the city, the United States, the people of Israel, and the world.
The Power of Exile
The Jewish story is one of exile and redemption. At times we live inside our land, and at times we live outside our land. While these two concepts appear to be polar opposites, the same root is found in both words; galut, exile, and geulah, redemption, both meaning “to reveal.”
The Miracle of the Moon
The Greeks forbid the Jews to perform three mitzvot in their quest for Jewish assimilation: Brit Milah, Shabbat, and Rosh Chodesh.
Light Your Candles
Have you heard that Chanukah came early this year? Not exactly…as usual, Chanukah is right on time, the 25th of Kislev. So when do we light the Chanukkiah?
An Attitude of Gratitude
During my Rabbinic internship at Temple Sholom, in Greenwich, CT, Rabbi Mitch Hurvitz would preach a consistent message: An “attitude of gratitude.” Whether it be in a religious school classroom, pre-school Shabbat, or Yom Kippur sermon, the attitude for gratitude was necessary to build a sacred community. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is the moment where we actively acknowledge our life’s blessings. At the dinner table, we publicly recite what we are grateful for in ways which we may passively accept the rest of the year.
Let It Shine
A new Torah study group recently formed with Sinai Temple dads. Each month, we explore a traditional Jewish text based on well known rituals, and we discuss the meaning that these traditions have within our own families.
Keep It Simple
When my children order pasta in a restaurant, they want it plain: No sauce, no oil; simply a plate of noodles.
Antiques
I recently officiated a memorial service of a man who was an antique dealer. As he started his business, he would place ads in newspapers around the country and set up a telephone number in cities across the United States, searching for memorabilia, furniture, and other antiques that people were discarding. His children told me that his home and store were filled from floor to ceiling with material possessions that were truly treasures. His clients included royalty from around the world.
Running the Right Way
For some of our daily activities, responsibilities, and obligations, we are quick to action. For others…..we are less excited about them. Laundry, dishes, and making school lunches are tasks I somehow find excuses to procrastinate. Yet, all we need is Abraham in our midst to teach us the lesson of how to move our bodies and souls just a tad quicker.
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