Maccabeats Purim
it isn’t festive without a video from The Maccabeats!
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: The Therapeutic Joy of Purim
Rabbi Ruditsky contrasts the book of Leviticus with Exodus: In the latter, the emphasis is on who Israel would become, whereas in Leviticus the emphasis is on inner holiness. In Judaism we practice cheshbon hanefesh, and remember ‘from where we come, where we are going, and before Whom we stand’…
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Vayikra The Personal Pursuit of Perfection
Rabbi Ruditsky contrasts the book of Leviticus with Exodus: In the latter, the emphasis is on who Israel would become, whereas in Leviticus the emphasis is on inner holiness. In Judaism we practice cheshbon hanefesh, and remember ‘from where we come, where we are going, and before Whom we stand’…
Happy Purim
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Musical Treats: “Clergy Girl: Parody Based on Barbie Girl”
Written & Conceived by: Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen
Directed by: Cantor Lizzie Weiss & Tess Cutler
Videographer / Editor: Tess Cutler
Rabbi Daniel Bouskila: My New Synagogue
When Moses convened the community, he essentially created the community by bringing the people together. Did they all agree with each other? And is it necessary that everyone in the community today agree? Rabbi Barenblat brings this key theme of the parashah to the communal dissension over the current situation in Gaza.
Rabbi Rachel Barenblat: Vayakhel Not Heat but Light
When Moses convened the community, he essentially created the community by bringing the people together. Did they all agree with each other? And is it necessary that everyone in the community today agree? Rabbi Barenblat brings this key theme of the parashah to the communal dissension over the current situation in Gaza.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Pekudei On Jewish Character
In the prior parashiot, the people willingly gave generously for the construction of a false idol; the following week they again gave generously for the construction of the Tabernacle for Adonai. Maimonides suggests that charitable giving is essentially part of the Jewish DNA; it comes first before anything else. Thus, the people gave first, and thought about their actions later.
Songs in Support of Israel | Cantor Feldman and Cantor Campbell
Songs in Support of Israel | Cantor Feldman and Cantor Campbell
Rabbi Morris Panitz: Ki Tisa Let Me Be
In Ki Tisa, when God tells Moses that he will destroy the people and repopulate the nation from Moses’ descendent, Moses tells God to let him be. Noach, in contrast, does exactly as God ordered, letting God destroy the world, and thereby failing the population. pan
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Parashat Vayakhel God’s Shadow
Rabbi Sacks writes about the issue of artistic creativity in Jewish custom and culture. Artistic expression is Judaism is a sensitive subject because of the commandment to not make idols or graven images. Yet, the Torah describes God’s gifts of artistic creativity to Betzalel and Ohaliab, in constructing the Tabernacle.