Dear Friends, It’s nice to know what to expect when we come to services. It’s nice to feel comfortable in our surroundings. Yet, when Moses asks Pharaoh to let our people go so that they may worship God, Moses tells Pharaoh something surprising. Moses tells Pharaoh that he cannot know in advance how exactly will Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, It’s often hard to decide when to act and when to let something slide…. In our weekly Torah portion, Shemot, we read of Pharaoh’s decree to drown the newborn baby boys, born to the Israelite people in Egypt. Joseph died and was forgotten. The good that Joseph had done for Egypt was, seemingly, Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, What are we waiting for….When does the life we hope to live actually begin? Traditionally, Jews are always aware of what is not yet completely perfect in ourselves and in the world around us. Traditionally, Jews are waiting for the Messianic era and anticipating a time when a true, lasting and pervasive peace Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Have you ever wondered why our ancestors were shepherds? Have you ever wondered why Moses was a shepherd? Why Rachel was tending the flocks of her father when Jacob first saw her? Why, in our weekly Torah portion, Joseph instructs his newly re-united family to present themselves to Pharaoh in Egypt, as shepherds? Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, This Shabbat we will have special treats at Rodef Sholom Temple. Don’t miss the fun! On Friday night, after our service, we will have a special Chanukah dinner, followed by Game Night! I hope to see you there! Then, tomorrow morning we will inaugurate our new three part Parsha and Archaeology series during Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, This Shabbat we read the continuation of the Joseph story. Joseph had so many close calls in life that we can truly speak of his “miraculous” life. Not only did he survive, he also rose from the depths of prison in Egypt all the way to the top of the heights of Egyptian Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Jacob wrestled with life in more ways than one. He struggled with his conscience. He struggled with Laban. He struggled with an unknown man/angel on the way back to his native homeland. And, he came out of the struggles with a limp. Many of us can connect with Jacob’s story because we too Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Our Sages realized that our spiritual life is influenced by many factors. They sensed that prayer in the morning is inherently different from prayer in the afternoon. And they understood that evening prayer is entirely different from either morning or afternoon prayers. Our Sages attributed the establishment of each of the three times Continue Reading »
Shabbat Parashat Toldot Keep Up the Good Work! November 30, 2019 – 2 Kislev 5780 Dear Friends, We live in an age that rewards innovation and creativity above almost everything else. We see innovation and creativity as an expression of some of the greatest qualities that human beings can display. Innovation and creativity are often Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, One of the things that I love about Thanksgiving is that it reminds us to be grateful for the blessings we have been granted in life. So often, we focus on what is not good in the world around us. So often, we surround ourselves with “bad news” or with a heightened awareness Continue Reading »
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