Hi – Hope you’re having a great day! … We recently had “one of those days”. It was Friday, as we were preparing for Shabbos. What happened? Our refrigerator died! Not very good timing!

Hi, I assume that by now you have heard of the suicide bombing in Netanya. It’s very sad when we find ourselves saying, “Thank G-d, only two people killed”. But we do need to say it. … I wanted to share two experiences that I had today. This morning at synagogue, I noticed an elderly […]

Hi, Here’s something to think about as we sit down to the Seder. …We read about the great Rabbi Akiva and five other Rabbis of the Talmud. How they stayed up all night talking about the Exodus from Egypt. And it’s easy for this story to get overlooked. Especially when everyone smells the delicious food! […]

Hi, How’s this for a shocker? The “Ten Commandments” is not a Jewish idea! Sounds like saying “apple pie” is not American! What could be more Jewish than the Ten Commandments? Aren’t they our gift to the world? … It’s the name that’s not Jewish. In Hebrew, they’re called, “Aseres Hadibros.”.  The “Ten Utterances.” They […]

Hi, Happy birthday! Today we become a People. The Jewish People finally arrive at Mount Sinai. We receive the Torah.  And are given our mission. G-d tells Moshe to speak to the “house of Israel”. (Exodus, 19:3) … The Talmud tells us, who is the “house of Israel”? The Jewish women. G-d tells Moshe to […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. The Jews finally leave Egypt.   The sea splits.  The Jews are saved.  And the Egyptians drown. (Exodus, 13:17-15:22) And the Jewish People sing praises to G-d. The song is part of the daily morning service until today. Moshe led the men.  And his sister, Miriam, led the women. […]

Hi, Finally.  The Exodus is about to begin. But not so fast! … G-d tells Moshe to give the Jewish People the good news. (Exodus, 6:1-13) That G-d is about to free them.  But they wouldn’t listen.  They didn’t believe Moshe. Their spirits were broken.  Then G-d tells Moshe to speak to Pharaoh and free […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. …Pharaoh has decreed that all newborn Jewish boys be thrown into the Nile River. Amram and Yocheved have a baby boy. Yocheved, his mother, hides him as long as possible. Finally she puts him in a box and places it on the banks of the Nile. And she […]

Hi, Jacob finally encounters his brother Esau.  (Genesis, 33) In Jewish tradition, Esau represents the power of the sword.  As opposed to the spiritual values of Jacob. In fact, Jacob had run away because Esau was planning on killing him. … What happens when they meet? “ He hugged Jacob… kissed him.  They wept”.  (33:4) […]