Jun
2
June, 2nd 2023
As we all know, during Birkat Kohanim – the special blessing in this week’s Torah reading with which the Kohanim bless the rest of the nation -the Kohanim are required both to lift their hands and to…
May
19
May, 19th 2023
The Gemara (Megillah 31b) states that when Ezra HaSofer initiated the cycle of weekly Torah readings, he determined that Parashat Bechukotai should always be read immediately before Shavuot. The…
May
12
May, 12th 2023
Dear Hebrew Academy Community:
Two thoughts which emerge from the laws of Shemittah—the Sabbatical Year--which are introduced in Parashat Behar.
I once saw an American TV show with Hebrew subtitles.…
May
5
May, 5th 2023
The Torah’s perspective on just about every aspect of human life—communal, familial, and personal—is discussed in the Parshiyot of Kedoshim and, this week’s Torah reading, Emor. These two Parshiyot…
Apr
28
April, 28th 2023
Parashat Kedoshim—the second of the two Parshiyot we read this Shabbat—begins with two simple yet challenging words—“Kedoshim Tihiyu—Be Holy.” If someone were to tell me to “Be Good” I think I would…
Apr
21
April, 21st 2023
Dear Hebrew Academy Community:
This Shabbat marks the conclusion of the third of the seven weeks of the Sefirat HaOmer period. Besides performing the Mitzvah of counting Sefira each night we observe…
Mar
31
March, 31st 2023
As we come close to concluding the process of searching for and destroying every bit of Chametz in our homes it seems appropriate to ask a simple question: Why does God seem to have such an aversion…
Mar
24
March, 24th 2023
An interesting conflict broke out within the Kehila, the autonomous governing body of the Jewish community, in a town in Moravia—present-day Czech Republic-- about 350 years ago. It seems that after…
Mar
17
March, 17th 2023
Throughout Vayakhel and Pekudai, the two Parshiyot which describe the construction of the Mishkan we are told again, and again, and again that each piece was constructed “as Hashem commanded” or…
Mar
10
March, 10th 2023
This Shabbat we read Parashat Parah, a description of the preparation of the Parah Adumah which was needed to purify those who had become ritually impure so that they could participate in the Mitzvah…
