It so happens this year that college move-in and the start of classes for UAlbany’s Fall semester 2018 falls between the Torah portions of Ki-Teitzei (“when you will go out / or go forth”) and Ki-Tavo (“when you will come … Read the rest

Shoftim is the Torah portion with the famous verse which compares “man to a tree of the field”. True, this is usually celebrated on Tu Bishvat (Jewish New Year for Trees) but this Parsha and verse is a good time … Read the rest

In the summer of 1960, the Rebbe shared this Baal Shem Tov story with camp children:

One time, a wagon got stuck in the mud, and the non-Jewish wagon-driver poked his head into the Baal Shem Tov’s synagogue, asking his … Read the rest

The middle of summer commemorates the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (Jerusalem Temple) on Tisha B’Av (the 9th of Av) but then turns into a season of comfort, of reassurance, of support, encouragement and uplift. Most aren’t depressed about going to … Read the rest

This post started off as tweets about the #Shema…

Before getting carried away with more depth and inner meaning of the #Shema, here’s a link to basic key “ten facts every Jew should know about #Shema” from @chabad. 

(1) #Shema … Read the rest

Tisha B’Av is the saddest date of the Jewish calendar when we mourn the destruction of the first and second Jerusalem Temples, known in Hebrew as the Beit HaMikdash, and yearn and hope for the rebuilding of the third Temple … Read the rest

For several days this July 2018, many all over the world were glued to the story of a Thai teen soccer team and their coach trapped behind rising water and depleting oxygen deep inside the Tham Luang cave complex and … Read the rest

As we enter the Torah portion of Chukat (or Chukas) in 2018, below are some Parsha thoughts (in no particular order) that you might find relevant in one way or another. Most of these originated as tweets. 

(1) Two great … Read the rest

One of the ways Torah describes the Jewish holidays is with the word “Moed” which means a set or appointed time. So, think appointments! We all have appointments in our lives. Doctors and dentists, professors and therapists, meeting a friend … Read the rest

This Shabbat falls on May 5th, celebrated by many as Cinco de Mayo, commemorating a great battle of the Mexicans against the French, and generally observed today as a celebration of all things Mexican. We did go with Mexican flag … Read the rest