Monthly Archives: September 2010

he Mishna of Rosh HaShana begins with the not-so-apparent and perhaps not so relevant information that there are actually four dates considered New Years, each for a different purpose. However, it has long been our tradition and with no dissent … Continue reading →

While driving to Corvallis, Oregon a couple weeks ago (July, 1999) to teach a Shabbat class in Talmud at the Aleph/Renewal Kallah, I thought about how to present my topic, Talmud, to a group of people who might not be … Continue reading →

Every year I feel I have to make new insights into each of our cyclical holy days. Some years, this one for example, I’m stumped and perhaps that feeling of stumpness is at least the clue and possibly the insight … Continue reading →

My son and I spent last Shabbat in Los Angeles, actually North Hollywood, helping to celebrate the Bar Mitzva of one of my longest and closest friend’s first son. As two non-family guests we were placed with neighbors for the … Continue reading →

Chametz in food is specifically defined as one of the five grains, wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt that has been mixed with water and allowed to ferment. Empirically, it was observed as early as the rabbinic age that within … Continue reading →

The three-week period ending with Tisha B’Av has long been associated with mourning the many disasters which have befallen the Jewish people throughout history. Highlighted by, but not begun with the destructions of the two Holy Temples, it often seems … Continue reading →

MISHNA: Raban Gamiliel says that everyone should pray the “Eighteen (Blessings)” daily. Rabbi Yehoshua says that one should only pray an extract (May-Eyin) of the “Eighteen Blessings” Rabbi Akiva says that if one knows them clearly one should say all … Continue reading →

It’s the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, a time of joy and celebration and the Maharal from Prague begins his Chanukkah book, Ner Mitzva (either “The Mitzva Candle” or, as I prefer, “Mitzvah = Candle”) by relating a nightmarish prophecy from Daniel. It’s night and … Continue reading →

Two short lessons from the Megilla before we start to read it. The first is based on the pasuk when King Ahashveros appoints Haman to his high position. Before that, there was a sense of uneasiness among the Jews in exile, … Continue reading →

Each year our people fast and mourn. We turn inside to remember the destruction of the two Holy Temples in Jerusalem, along with any number of other national disasters. We dream of and plead for our full return to Jerusalem, … Continue reading →