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YK: Rain, Flooding & the Drain on Great Dane Drive

I’ve told this story years ago, back in the days of the old Shabbos House, and before Great Dane Drive was named, but the heavy rains and flooding on Thursday reminded me of this story – and it’s meaningful message.… Read the rest

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YK: Jonah and the Lego Brick

It so happens that I’ve had this Lego block at my place for most of this Yom-Kippur. It’s one of the effects of having High Holiday services in a home where children play around a lot. As we read the … Read the rest

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YK: Sunset, Sunrise, & the Rhythms of Time

Yes, I got that header right. The Fiddler song is “Sunrise, Sunset” but the famous poem on Yom-Kippur eve titled “Yaaleh” is “Sunset, Sunrise, Evening” because it captures the 25 hours of Yom-Kippur, which like all Jewish calendar days begins … Read the rest

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YK: A Yom-Kippur 2000 Conversation in Dutch Quad

Just before the start of Yom-Kippur, an alumnus posted this meaningful memory on his Facebook Wall. I in turn shared it on my FB wall, and wanted to share it on Yom-Kippur as well, because it is a unique insight … Read the rest

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The Composite Shabbos Shuvah Drasha

Most students are familiar with Rabbis’ sermons on the High Holidays. But there’s an old custom for Rabbis to give a long sermon on the Shabbos before Yom-Kippur, and on the Shabbos before Passover. Since we’re not into long sermons, … Read the rest

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The Fox, the Lion and 300 Jokes

Rabbi Shmuly Rubin of Union College Chabad shared this High Holiday parable from the Baal Shem Tov:
 
The animals were thinking of a way to approach the lion, king of the jungle. They felt intimidated and didn’t feel ready
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The Erev Yom-Kippur Drunk

A long time ago, in Eastern Europe, a Jew was thrown into debtor’s prison a day or two before Yom-Kippur. He leased a inn or business from the local nobleman, and had fallen behind on his rent. His family was … Read the rest

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Yertle the Turtle, Little Mack & Rosh Hashanah

Many are familiar with Dr. Seuss’ “Yertle the Turtle” (a parable about dictators and those who abuse others in their pursuit of power) so I won’t repeat the whole story. It’s easy to find, look it up and read it.… Read the rest

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Protected: If we’d only realize what our parents invested in us…

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Long & Short of a 3-Day YomTov

This year, the two days of Rosh Hashanah are Thursday and Friday (beginning Wednesday night) which end just as Shabbat begins. So practically speaking it creates a set of 3-days in which work is prohibited and they are filled instead … Read the rest

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