Not Just Numbers - The Sanctity of Speech - by Charles Shenitz
07/08/2015 10:27:45 AM
This past Monday, June 29 the 12th of Tammuz was the first yahrzeit for my father George Abraham Shenitz, Yosef Avraham ben Binyamin Halevi z"l. I presented a Torah learning session in memory of my father after daily morning services. I chose to focus on my father's ability to carefully choose his words on all...Read more...
The JCRC of Greater Washington Stands with the Community of Charleston at This Time of Tragedy
06/19/2015 02:57:06 PM
The murders committed in Charleston at the historic Emanuel AME Church and the desecration of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes at Tabgha reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the unity of all of G-d's creation. We issue the following statements in response to these heinous crimes:
The JCRC of Greater Washington Stands with the Community of Charleston at This Time of Tragedy...Read more...
The Magic Omer Formula: How to Figure Out the Correct Count without A Calendar or Internet!
04/22/2015 02:22:22 PM
If you were stranded on an island without a Jewish calendar and no internet connection (oy gevalt!), how would you know what number to count in the Omer?
Every year, on the second night of Passover, we begin a special 49-day period in the Jewish calendar known as Sefirat Ha’omer, the counting of the...Read more...
HTAA Students Play Music and Show Their Talents to Seniors at "Cohen-Rosen House" on Good Deeds Day 2015
03/22/2015 03:07:54 PM
In order of appearance:
Vivi - playing "Ode to Joy" on oboe
Annie Sacks - playing "Classical Sonatina" on piano
Emily, Nina and David twirling the hula hoops
Marta - playing "Russian Dance" on piano
Niv Leibowitz - breaking boards with Taekwondo punches and kicks
Read more...Lessons from the Olive Tree
02/10/2015 12:33:40 PM
By Chana Williams
A 2000-year-old olive tree in Israel (credit: Dawn Moraski)
On Tu Bishvat, one of the fruits we eat is olives. The Hebrew word for olive tree is "etz shemen," meaning “tree of oil”. As you probably know, olives can be squeezed to make olive oil, which has many uses in...Read more...
Parashat Vayechi - Why is "Yehuda" Special This Week? by Shamai Leibowitz
01/05/2015 11:43:37 AM
Parashat Vayeitze
12/01/2014 10:27:03 PM
Was Laban Really A Wicked Person?
By Charles Shenitz and Shamai Leibowitz
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeitze, one of the main characters is Laban, or Lavan, Rebecca's brother and Yaakov's uncle, with whom Yaakov has a tumultuous relationship.
We referenced Lavan in this column several few weeks ago in our commentary on the Torah portion...Read more...
Parashat Ki Tetzei
09/07/2014 08:16:18 AM
What's At Stake?
Understanding the Prohibition of Leaving A Corpse on the Stake
by Charles Shenitz
At the beginning of this week’s Torah portion Ki Teitsei, we find the prohibition against leaving a body hanging overnight:
If a man is guilty of a capital offense and is put...Read more...
Parashat Re'eh:
08/22/2014 03:44:47 PM
HTAA's Multi-Generational Trip to NYC
08/15/2014 11:20:47 AM
Upon the 69th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6 and 9, respectively), a multi-generational group from Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim traveled to New York City to watch the Off-Broadway musical, Atomic, about Leo Szilard, a Jewish-Hungarian brilliant...Read more...
My Solidarity Visit to Israel by Lou Numkin
08/14/2014 02:41:18 PM
On July 28-30, I was one of five members (including the National President) of a Hadassah Solidarity Delegation’s mission to show support to Israel. Immediately upon arrival we were whisked to Mea Shreya, a youth village, which was hosting families from southern Israel who wanted to get further out of harm’s way and enjoy time together swimming, playing soccer, and touring. This facility has an award-winning school, a...Read more...