Listen to an audio version Here in Connecticut all contracts require a three-day “cooling off” period, a time when all involved parties can examine their contractual obligations and determine whether or not they can honor them. This allows the parties…
Category: Holiday Messages
Shavuos all Over Again
Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra was renowned for his unique and often comical way of turning a phrase. One expression that became part of the American lexicon was, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Déjà vu, of course,…
Cleaning Our Homes and Hearts
This Shabbat is Shabbat HaGadol or the Sabbath of “the Great One”. The Great One is Elijah the prophet, the one who according to tradition will herald the coming of the Messiah. So on this last Shabbat prior to Pesach…
Lessons Learned From A Little Sukkah
In Judaism it is considered a mitzvah to not only dwell in a sukkah, but also to build it. In fact the process is considered one of such joyous fulfillment that it is best to do it as soon after…
The Shofar; A Clarion Call To Remember
Listen to an audio version If you look in Torah you will not see a Holy Day called Rosh Hashanah. It is referenced as Yom Teruah, or the day of the blasting of the shofar. This is altogether appropriate since…
Tetsaveh – Do Not Forget!
The Torah portion for this week, Tetsaveh, literally “means you shall command.” It contains the remainder of the divine instruction for the building and operation of the Mishkan, the unique tabernacle in which Hashem promises to dwell with Israel during…
Tish B’Av – A View From the Rubble
People don’t get along all of the time. We are often tired or stressed out and it can be hard to keep our cool when someone cuts us off on the highway during the commute, let their kids run amuck…
Purim, the Church and Jewish Marginality
This is a “leap year” for Israel’s lunar calendar. The Jewish “leap year”, which occurs seven times in a 19-year cycle, has 13 months instead of the regular year’s 12. This is so that the lunar-based Jewish year should remain…