Tidbits of Torah

Shabbat Parashat Lekh L’kha Gratitude and Blessings!

Posted on November 8, 2019

Dear Friends, I hope you will join us this Shabbat as we celebrate the bar mitzvah of Reece David.  Mazal Tov to Reece and to his entire family!  Gratitude and blessings are definitely in the air… We also mark Veterans Day this weekend and express our gratitude for the many blessings we have been afforded Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Noach Family and Future!

Posted on November 1, 2019

Dear Friends, I hope you will join us this Shabbat as we celebrate the bat mitzvah of Yona Hyman.  Mazal Tov to Yona and to her entire family! In this week’s Torah portion, Noach, we are introduced, for the first time in the Biblical narrative, to the Hebrew word for “family” (mishpachah).  And so, it Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat VaYelech Shabbat Shuvah Transitions

Posted on October 4, 2019

Dear Friends, This first Shabbat of the Jewish New Year, 5780, is a very special Shabbat – Shabbat Shuvah.  There are so many levels of meaning embedded in the words: “Shabbat Shuvah.”   We might say that this is the “Shabbat of Return.”   Or, perhaps we might call this Shabbat, the “Shabbat of Repentance.”  This Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim Shana Tova!

Posted on September 27, 2019

Dear Friends, I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova u’Metuka [a good year and a sweet year]!  May we enjoy many blessings and simchas [joyous celebrations] together. A short and sweet message for this Shabbat and for the coming High Holy Days: I love this week’s Torah portion Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Ki Tetse – To Ignore Or Not To Ignore…

Posted on September 13, 2019

Dear Friends, To ignore…or not to ignore.  That is the question! As the month of Elul progresses, and in preparation for the High Holy Days, we are called upon to reflect on our lives. One of the dilemmas of life these days is how to sift through all the information we receive throughout the day.  Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Shoftim – Gratitude and Love

Posted on September 6, 2019

Dear Friends, It is with a sense of tremendous gratitude to all the volunteers who kept our services running throughout my vacation, that I return to Rodef Sholom Temple.  Thanks to all those who led services, to those who delivered divrei Torah, and to those who kept our congregation going over the summer. I thoroughly Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Balak – Visions of Victory

Posted on July 19, 2019

Dear Friends, This Shabbat is the 17th day of the Jewish month of Tammuz.  On this date, in 70 C.E., the Roman army breached the walls of Jerusalem.  Three weeks later, on the 9th of the Jewish month of Av, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple. In our modern Jewish calendar, the 17th of Tammuz Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Chukkat — Favorite Mysteries

Posted on July 12, 2019

Dear Friends, As you may recall, I mentioned last High Holy Days that I am an avid reader of Louise Penny mysteries which are written on the backdrop of Quebec landscapes. Since then, I have been enjoying Donna Leon’s books featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti and his Venetian escapades. And, most recently I have begun reading Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Korach Independence

Posted on July 5, 2019

Dear Friends, I hope you are enjoying our Independence Day Weekend! I was grateful that we had a lovely morning minyan on Thursday, July 4th, and that we could be with Stephanie and Jack Gelman who were concluding the Shiva for Stephanie’s mom, Edith Spritzer, of blessed memory. After the morning minyan service, and before Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Naso – Father’s Day

Posted on June 14, 2019

Dear Friends, This past week we have all seen heightened advertisements enticing us to buy gifts for Father’s Day….Mostly the ads say: Do you have your gift ready? Interestingly, our Torah portion of Naso includes the gifts brought to the Tabernacle by each of the Nesi’im [the chiefs] of the 12 tribes of Israel.  Each Continue Reading »