Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 07 Aug 2012 /
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Hi, Hope all is well. We were learning the Torah portion of Kedoshim. (Leviticus, 19 and 20). Kedoshim is full of great moral teachings as well as many Jewish rituals. There’s Shabbat. There’s “Love you neighbor like yourself”. (19:18) And the very next verse? A mysterious commandment. “Do not wear a garment that has both […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 25 Jul 2012 /
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Hi, Hope all is well. … There’s something the Torah does very often. It mixes “ethical obligations” together with “ritual laws”. Here’s one example. “Every person must respect their mother and father and keep my Sabbaths. (Leviticus, 19:3) The Torah is making a point. That both kinds of commandments are equally important. Our obligations to […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 24 Jul 2012 /
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Hi, Please allow a personal note. Today is my Mom’s yartzeit. The anniversary of her passing. “Elisheva bas (daughter of) Dov Ber”. … I grew up in a Torah observant home. But my Dad didn’t come from an observant background. And what happened? He met my Mom, who did! They met at a time that […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 24 Jul 2012 /
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Hi, I’m sure you’ve been following the Discovery Mission developments. And today the flight crew honored the memory of all fallen astronauts. Including, of course, those lost in the Columbia disaster. While every loss is very tragic? As Jews, we especially remember Illan Ramon. And his picture came to mind when I read the following. […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 19 Jul 2012 /
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Hi, Here’s one of my favorites about Shabbat. “The Children of Israel shall observe the Sabbath… between Me and them it’s a sign forever”. (Exodus, 31:16-17) The Torah calls Shabbat a sign. … Think of a large business. It’s been around for many years. Very successful. But the old generation is gone. And it’s handed […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 15 Jul 2012 /
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Hi, Here’s a follow up to the last Torah Minute. We saw how we can get involved in something really important? And lose sight of why we’re doing it. … It’s something that can happen to each and every one of us. Because there’s something we all get very “into”. And even if I don’t […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 15 Jul 2012 /
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Hi, I’m sure you’ve done it. Played Jewish geography! You meet another Jew for the first time? And before you know it, you’re related! Or at least know someone that they know. Sometimes you meet a fellow Jew. They look familiar. You know you’ve seen them before. But you just can’t place it. If all […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 05 Jul 2012 /
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Hi, They’re the best Tablets ever prescribed to man. The Ten Commandments. (Exodus, 20:1-14) … There were two tablets. One? Obligations between “man and G-d” What we might call “religious laws”. Belief in G-d. Not worshiping idols. Not using G-d’s name in vain. Shabbat. And honoring parents. The second tablet? Obligations between “man and man.” […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 26 Jun 2012 /
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Hi, Drishat Shalom, best regards from Israel! I had an amazing trip. Besides the usual high points, like Jerusalem and the Western Wall? I visited some of the fantastic Yeshivas for men and women without extensive Jewish backgrounds. There are some amazing opportunities to really sink your teeth into Jewish learning. And there’s one just […]
Posted by rabbi.deutsch on 30 May 2012 /
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Hi, Yesterday it was kosher filet mignon. One reader told me she will be in Israel for Rosh Hashanah. And is now looking forward to the trip even more! We also spoke about we have outlived our enemies. … Its 167 B.C.E. Close to the story of Chanukah. And you’re reading the Athens Times. Here’s […]