rabbi | Congregation Torat El - Part 4

Archive: July 2013

Tuesday Morning Torah – July 2, 2013

Posted on July 2, 2013

Last week marked a historic moment for our country, with the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal DOMA. In recent decades, the American Jewish community has wrestled with the issue of welcoming and including our GLBT brothers and sisters into our midst as full and equal members of the Jewish community. Jewish law and tradition has Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – June 18, 2013

Posted on June 18, 2013

The Weekly Parsha- Prophets, and Privacy   In this week’s Torah portion we read about a Moabite king (Balak) and his prophet for hire (Balaam). King Balak hires Balaam to curse the Israelites, but Balaam fails three times and God causes him to bless the Israelites instead. In one famous scene, the Torah portrays Balaam Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – June 11, 2013

Posted on June 11, 2013

From issues of religious pluralism, to Google’s possible purchase of an Israeli start-up company (Waze), to the strife along Israel’s boarder with Syria- many interesting articles about Israel have come across my desk in recent weeks. Here are a sampling of some which you might enjoy: 1.   Rosenblatt, Culture War Widening- The Jewish Week 2. Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – June 4, 2013

Posted on June 4, 2013

Hot off the press- a wonderful article about creating a prayer experience that is warm, inclusive, and filled with joyous spirit and song. Check out the introduction and then click to read the rest of the article. On a recent Saturday evening, as Shabbat began to fade, two dozen men and women, most in their Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – May 28, 2013

Posted on May 28, 2013

Before this week’s message- please remember that the Congregational Meeting is this coming Sunday, June 2 at 7:00PM at the Synagogue. Please join us during this exciting time in our history as we discuss the current state and future direction of Congregation Torat El. _________________________________________ Do you find yourself with a little bit more time Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – May 21, 2013

Posted on May 21, 2013

Our hearts and prayers go out to the residents of Moore, Oklahoma this morning, following the devastating mile long tornado which flattened homes, a hospital, and two schools. The death toll currently stands at 91 people, including 20 children and I am sure we will hear of more losses throughout the day. Our tradition teaches Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – May 14, 2013

Posted on May 15, 2013

Tonight we begin the Festival of Shavuot. Like the other pilgrimage festivals, Sukkot and Passover, Shavuot has Agricultural roots. The Torah tells us that beginning on Passover we are to count “seven weeks (Shavuot)” from the beginning of the grain crop until the end of that harvest. This counting is the source for the current Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – May 7, 2013

Posted on May 7, 2013

When I was in Rabbinical school, a new Modern Orthodox Rabbinical Seminary opened in New York that was that was committed to a more “open orthodoxy.” Founded by the charismatic Rabbi Avi Weiss,   Yeshivat Chovevei Torah was committed to developing: a new breed of leaders – rabbis who are open, non-judgmental, knowledgeable, empathetic, and eager Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – April 30, 2013

Posted on April 30, 2013

Kipa, Talit, and Tefilin    What kind of ritual uniform do you wear?   Growing up on the West Coast, Egalitarianism is not a new, or even recent concept in my life. I grew up at a synagogue where men and women sat together, and participated equally in services for as far back as I Continue Reading »

Tuesday Morning Torah – April 23, 2013

Posted on April 23, 2013

Last week my family and I had our first amazing experience at Disney World. As you might expect a fun time was had by all and there were many “magical” moments where Disney truly did feel like the “happiest place on earth.”  Waiting in line for Pluto to sign our autograph book, I found myself Continue Reading »