Tidbits of Torah

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on October 3, 2018

  Shabbat Parashat HaAzinu Can You Top the High Holy Days?    September 22, 2018 – 13 Tishrei 5779   Dear Friends, I hope you will join us at services this Friday night, and especially this Shabbat morning, as we celebrate the aufruf of Amanda Eisner and Jeremy Granoff.  Mazal Tov to Amanda and to Jeremy Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on September 14, 2018

  Shabbat Parashat VaYelech Shabbat Shuva – The Shabbat of Repentance The Calm Before the Storm    September 15, 2018 – 6 Tishrei 5779 Dear Friends, The traditional blessing for the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is: Chatima Tova [May you be sealed for the Good] in the New Year. We paused on Rosh HaShana to take a Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on September 7, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Nitsavim Shana Tova!!!    September 8, 2018 – 28 Elul 5779 Dear Friends,   I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova, a good year filled with sweetness and joy!!! This Shabbat we will be reading the weekly Torah portion of Nitsavim [standing firmly].  The  sense of Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on September 5, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Ki Tavo Selichot Intro    September 1, 2018 – 21 Elul 5778  Dear Friends, This Saturday night, at 9 p.m., Rodef Sholom Temple is hosting our annual Virginia Peninsula communal Selichot program and service.  Our guest speaker will be Mr. Keith Harward, a beneficiary of The Innocence Project.  If you would like some Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on August 17, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Shoftim Elul Reflections    August 18, 2018 – 7 Elul 5778  Dear Friends,   The Jewish month of Elul gives us time to prepare our souls for the High Holy Days.  During this month, we hear the sounds of the Shofar daily toward the end of weekday morning services.  Throughout the month, on Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on August 10, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Re’eh Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Elul – Day 1  Israel On My Mind   August 11, 2018 – 30 Av 5778    Dear Friends, It is wonderful to have extra reasons to celebrate this Shabbat!!!  Not only is it the first day of Rosh Chodesh [the beginning of the new Jewish month] Elul, this Friday Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on August 3, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Ekev Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh  Remember!       August 4, 2018 – 23 Av 5778  Dear Friends, Thank you to all who responded to the Tidbits of Torah asking about the most profound and/or perplexing pieces in Siddur Lev Shalem!  I appreciated your responses! Thank you to all who filled in while I was Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on July 6, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Pinchas Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh  Profound and Perplexing Pieces in Siddur Lev Shalem       July 7, 2018 – 24 Tammuz 5778  Dear Friends,   Our recent heat wave and July 4th having come and gone are clear indications that summer is upon us!   I hope that you have had an opportunity to Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on June 29, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Balak The Blessing of Connection     June 30, 2018 – 17 Tammuz 5778   Dear Friends,   Are we, Jews, destined to be an isolated people? Balaam, the non-Jewish Prophet, set out to curse our people but ended up blessing us with the famous words “Mah Tovu…” [How goodly are your tents, Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on June 22, 2018

Shabbat Parashat Chukkat Spiritual Focus for a Better Future June 23, 2018 – 10 Tammuz 5778 Dear Friends, How is it possible for someone who is actively performing a mitzvah to lose spiritual focus as a direct result of performing that mitzvah? Or, to put it another way: Why might someone who is doing a Continue Reading »