Monthly Archives: September 2010

A comment by Tosefot in the fourth chapter of Tractate Brachot, in order to prove that the Musaf prayer can usually be said as early as one wants (after finishing Shacharit), refers to a rule that on Rosh HaShana one … Continue reading →

Introduction The Siddur, the Jewish prayer manual, is a rich, perhaps sometimes too-rich, historical collection of prayers, praise and, most-overlooked but most important, mantra meditations. It is unfortunate that, over the years, these prayers have been preserved and integrated in … Continue reading →

Yedid Nefesh Prayers based on the Four-Letter Name of God, such as “Yedid Nefesh”, can serve as a vehicle to meditate on meanings implied by that name. We talk about unifying the Name in prayers such as the “Alenu” (“And … Continue reading →

The main thrust of what I want to share is from the Slonimer Rebbe’s insights into the dual nature of Rosh HaShana and Yom HaDin versus Yom Tov, since it’s defined both ways in the Tora. Partially this explains why … Continue reading →

A simple definition of Torah is, by definition, inadequate. A non-exhaustive list would include the interface of the infinite and the finite, a description of all reality compressed through untold levels into relatively few words; it’s Revelation, it’s a spiritual … Continue reading →

Three great teachers each left me with brief statements which have guided me as a rabbi, an artist, a parent, a husband, a teacher, a person. When I first asked Rabbi Shloime Twersky zt”l about moving back to Denver (I … Continue reading →

Each year we face an old holiday as new people. Our experiences over the previous year change us as well as our goals for the new year. Our relationship to “constants” also changes, keeping the holidays themselves alive. My thoughts … Continue reading →

Outside of the very real issue of transmitting a culture, like many “enlightened” people, I have to overcome a gut reaction against the idea of cutting a baby. Since I’ve yet to find that our shared spiritual path is inherently … Continue reading →

Where do we learn of this Mitzva? From the Shema, “U’Ktavtem al Mezuzot Beytecha U’V’Sha’arecha” What is it we write? What is in the Mezuza itself? The Shema! Jewish thinking, Jewish reasoning is associative. As I’ve said many times, the … Continue reading →

One of the three required topics at the seder table and ingredients on the seder plate is the shankbone or Pesach, which shares it’s name with the entire holiday. In the “enlightened 90’s”, it’s often very difficult to talk about … Continue reading →