Tidbits of Torah

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on June 16, 2017

      Grasshoppers and “Bubble-hopping”                 Shabbat Parashat Shelach-Lekha Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh  June 17, 2017- 23 Sivan 5777 Dear Friends, As is true for many of us, for the most part, I live in a world of assumptions and of circumstances that are familiar to me.  This is my comfort zone.  This is my “bubble.”  Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on June 9, 2017

      Believe it…or not?                Shabbat Parashat B’ha’a’lot’cha June 10, 2017- 16 Sivan 5777 Dear Friends, There is a saying: “Seeing is believing.”  But, sometimes, for various reasons, we see things and we still doubt what we have seen with our own eyes.  We are skeptical about what we ourselves experience, and we are Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on June 5, 2017

    Riches and Blessings               Shabbat Parashat Naso June 3, 2017- 9 Sivan 5777 Dear Friends, The threefold blessing, also known as the Priestly blessing, comes right out of our weekly Torah portion! “May Adonai bless and protect you. May Adonai’s countenance shine upon you and may Adonai bestow kindness upon you. May Adonai’s Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on May 26, 2017

    Memorial Day Weekend and B’Midbar               Shabbat Parashat B’Midbar May 27, 2017- 2 Sivan 5777 Dear Friends, It is good to be home!  Thank you to all the volunteers and staff who filled in while I was away on Sabbatical!  Much appreciated! Now, as summer approaches and as we move into Memorial Day Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on April 7, 2017

Passover Greetings from Israel Shabbat Parashat Tzav Shabbat HaGadol April 7, 2017- 11 Nissan 5777 Dear Friends, I send you blessings from Israel! As we are about to celebrate Passover, it is good to remember that the Exodus from Egypt and from the horrors of slavery was not the end goal. It was a means Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on February 3, 2017

Youth, Elders, Boys, Girls Shabbat Parashat Bo February 4, 2017 – 8 Shevat 5777 Dear Friends, I hope you will join us at services this Friday night and Shabbat as we celebrate the bar mitzvah of Leon Lacey. Mazal Tov to Leon and to his whole family! What is the secret of our people’s survival? Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on January 30, 2017

   Spiritual and Physical Groundbreakings                        Shabbat Parashat Va’era Shabbat Rosh Chodesh  January 28, 2017 – 1 Shevat 5777 Dear Friends,How awesome is it that we have arrived at this juncture in our congregational and communal life!  This Sunday, we will gather together for the groundbreaking ceremony for our new Temple, on the UJC Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on January 20, 2017

        New Beginnings                       Shabbat Parashat Shemot Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh  January 21, 2017 – 23 Tevet 5777 Dear Friends, New beginnings are often daunting and our weekly Torah portion, Shemot, is full of new beginnings. For one thing, Shemot is the beginning of the second book of the Five Books of Moses.  For another Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on January 13, 2017

What Next? Shabbat Parashat VaYechi January 14, 2017 – 16 Tevet 5777 Dear Friends, These days many of us are focused on the future. What next? One farewell address follows another. And, as we realize that a new leaf is being turned over, we look back and we look forward. We may not agree on Continue Reading »

Tidbits of Torah

Posted on January 6, 2017

    Aging and “Saging ”                      Shabbat Parashat VaYigash January 7, 2017 – 9 Tevet 5777 Dear Friends, To all those who share a birthday with me this month, I send a special birthday blessing that we may be privileged to share many more birthdays together in good health and in happiness!  And, I Continue Reading »