Sep
14
September, 14th 2023
Dear Hebrew Academy Community: As I think about the still very new school year and about the period of introspection and Teshuva in which we are all engaged, I bring to your attention an interesting…
Sep
8
September, 8th 2023
Dear Hebrew Academy Community: Near the end of Nitzavim we read four beautiful, poetic Pesukim (which, by the way, Avraham Fried turned into a beautiful song) which translate to: For the Mitzvah I…
Aug
31
August, 31st 2023
Dear Hebrew Academy Community: As we complete our second week of school—time goes by so quickly-- I should like to direct your attention to two messages which I hope will characterize the religious…
Aug
25
August, 25th 2023
Last week, days before the start of school, we entered into the month of Elul, which calls upon each of us to begin a process of introspection and Teshuva (Repentance). What exactly is Teshuva? Or…
Jun
9
June, 9th 2023
Dear Hebrew Academy Community: Right in the middle of B’Ha’alotcha the Torah interrupts the narrative of Bnai Yisrael’s travel through the desert with two Pesukim: ויהי בנסוע הארון ויאמר משה קומה ה'…
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…