Tidbits of Torah

Shabbat Parashat Vayishlach Looking Forward

Posted on December 4, 2020

Dear Friends, We are all looking forward to something good…. I am looking forward to the joy of Chanukah and to lighting candles each of the 8 nights of Chanukah (beginning on Thursday evening, December 10th). I am looking forward to many other things as well, such as: Seeing you at services this evening; Sharing Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Vayetze Earthly Angels

Posted on November 27, 2020

Dear Friends, I hope you will join us for Friday night services as we celebrate Shabbat and as we continue to mark Thanksgiving weekend. Imagine the fear that gripped Jacob’s heart as he began his lonely flight from his family and from his home to far-away Haran. This is the story which opens our weekly Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Toldot Thanksgiving Then and Now

Posted on November 20, 2020

Dear Friends, I hope you will join us for Friday night and Shabbat morning services as we celebrate the bar mitzvah of David Spigel. Mazal Tov to David and to the entire family! This week’s Torah portion, Toldot, highlights the impact that a single special festive meal can have on a family and on the Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Hayyei Sarah Hesed: Even Greater than Tzedakah Shabbat Mevarekhim HaHodesh

Posted on November 13, 2020

Dear Friends, I hope you will join us for Friday night and Shabbat morning services as we celebrate the bar and bat mitzvah of Jayden and Adyson Kaufman. Mazal Tov to Jayden and to Adyson, and to the entire family! This week’s Torah portion, Hayyei Sarah, includes the remarkable story of Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, fulfilling Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Vayera Generosity and Hospitality

Posted on November 6, 2020

Dear Friends, I hope you will join us for Friday night services this evening as we continue our celebration of Leila Coltrain’s bat mitzvah! Yesterday, we heard and saw Leila have an aliyah to the Torah, read from the Torah, and chant Haftarah as part of our Thursday Morning minyan. It was a wonderful celebration Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Lech L’cha Moving From the Scary to the Sacred

Posted on November 2, 2020

Dear Friends, Lech L’cha [Go forth] implies an imperative to move forward. These are the opening words of our weekly Torah portion. Lech L’cha [Go forth]. This is what God communicated to Abraham in our weekly Torah portion. And, this is what we too must confront. But, what is our direction? With so many scary Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Bereishit Shabbat Machar Chodesh Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh Live and Learn!

Posted on October 16, 2020

Dear Friends, I hope you will join us this Friday night and Shabbat morning as we celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Zachary Busch. Mazal Tov to Zachary and to his entire family! Having just completed the annual reading of the Five Books of Moses on Simchat Torah, we now begin anew reading the Creation story Continue Reading »

Shabbat Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah A Different Simchat Torah!

Posted on October 9, 2020

Dear Friends, This year, on this Shabbat, we are combining our celebration of Shemini Atzeret, when we recite Yizkor, with our celebration of Simchat Torah, when we rejoice with the Torah! How do the two holidays fit together? Actually, very well…. The inclusions in the Amidah prayers we recite on Simchat Torah are, in any Continue Reading »

Shabbat Sukkot – Day 1 Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

Posted on October 2, 2020

Dear Friends, The think I love most about Sukkot is that we are “commanded” to rejoice for the entire seven days of the Sukkot holiday! Imagine that! I am sooooo ready to try my very best to fulfill this mitzvah! I look forward to seeing you all at Zoom services tonight, Friday night, and tomorrow Continue Reading »

Shabbat Parashat Ha’azinu Shabbat Shuvah The Poetry of Life

Posted on September 25, 2020

Dear Friends, It is never too late to change. And, if you ever doubted that….The proof is in this week’s Torah portion! In this week’s Torah portion of Ha’azinu, Moses, who once considered himself incapable of speaking persuasively, suddenly changes his mode of communication. Instead of continuing to recount the history of the Exodus, the Continue Reading »