This Rosh Hashanah as we spend much of the day in prayer, there’s some question or debate about what ought to be the focus of our prayers: Should our focus be physical or spiritual? Perhaps these two stories about a … Read the rest
Apples and Honey are a beloved Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) treat, tradition and theme. Everyone knows the reason for the honey – so that our new year should be sweet. But why apples?
Hurricanes aren’t good things, as they can cause tremendous damage to life and property. As Houston still reels from the effects of Hurricane Harvery, and Hurricane Irma continues its path of destruction in the Carribean towards Florida, we hope and pray … Read the rest
This week’s Torah portion of Ki Teitzei speaks about the laws of returning lost objects. The devastating flooding in Houston and eastern Texas due to the heavy rains of Hurricane Harvey made me think of the piece of Talmud that … Read the rest
This is no endorsement, and not all versions of this are created equal, and it’s not for everyone or all ages or temperaments – but most college students know what “going out” means, so there … Read the rest
Bassie is an avid reader, our bookworm. In preparation for her Bas-Mitzvah, and as her Bas-Mitzvah learning project, we discussed and studied and then prepared with Bassie this “Book of Books” exploring some of the Jewish books of our home/Shabbos … Read the rest
In honor of my granddaughter Bassie’s Bas-Mitzvah theme focusing on books and her “Book of Books” project, I’d like to share two stories about Chassidim and books from the period after the Russian revolution, during that … Read the rest
Apples and Honey are a beloved Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) treat, tradition and theme. Everyone knows the reason for the honey – so that our new year should be sweet. But why apples?