Rabbi's Desk

Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.

My 11 year-old recently discovered the fallacy of this children's poem when she was injured by a dictionary, as she was pulling it from a shelf! It was a teachable moment and we had a discussion about how words actually can cause pain. Adults know this all too well. Words, however intangible, have immense...Read more...

As the oldest of three children, of course I take issue with this saying. I might remind my siblings that the first day of the year, Rosh Hashanah, comes at the holiest time of the year. Also, on the first of every month we celebrate with Halleland public Torah reading. Indeed, first is the best.

However, my younger siblings might remind me of the saying “Acharon acharon chaviv” - the last one is the most dear....Read more...

Happy Adar!

The Mishnah instructs that we rejoice when the month of Adar arrives. One might find that counterintuitive. After all, Adar is the last month, as we are taught that Nisan, the month of Pesach, is considered the first of the months. Winter is still in full force, even though we know that Spring is around the corner. COVID is still a threat that keeps us from traveling and embracing our families and loved ones, even though...Read more...

Unlike with other festivals that coincide with Shabbat, Shabbat lights and Hanukkah lights are lit separately, each having their own blessings recited. In order not to violate the observance of Shabbat, all of the candles must be lit at sunset (today, 4:28pm) The Hanukkah candles must be lit first because once the Shabbat candles are lit, Shabbat has begun and no new fire is permitted to be kindled. Since the Hanukkah lights must last...Read more...

As we have all been awaiting a final result of the US Presidential Election, a prayer from our daily Amida stands out. The eleventh blessing reads as follows:

Restore our judges as before and our counselors as at first. Remove sorrow and sighing from us, and reign over us You, Hashem, alone with kindness and compassion; with righteousness and with justice. Blessed are You, Hashem, King, Lover of righteousness and...Read more...

Besides Shabbat, Yom Kippur is the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. In fact, Yom Kippur itself is called ַשבת שבתוֹן (Sabbath of complete rest) in the Torah. A common misconception about Yom Kippur, due to the fact that it is a fast day and that our focus is to be on forgiveness and regret for misdeeds of the past, is that it is a sad and solemn festival. This, however, is not supposed to be the case. While it is a...Read more...

This month of Elul is spent preparing for the upcoming new year. Unlike the secular new year which is commonly welcomed with lavish parties and overindulgence, the Jewish method of marking the head of the year is much more reflective and personal. It is not about whom we are kissing at the moment the ball drops in Times Square. It is about taking steps to implement changes in our lives, to make next year better than the last. For that,...Read more...

The saddest day in Jewish history is the 9th of Av, beginning this evening. The 3-week period of mourning culminates with the commemoration of the destruction of both the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem. Over the centureies, other catastrophes that befell the Jewish people also came to be associated with this day of mourning.

To commemorate the destructions of the two Temples, the rabbis designated Tisha B'Av as a...Read more...

For the second time this year we are faced with celebrating a major festival without the ability to gather together in shul. Jews always persevere and we are excited to offer many wasys to connect, including live Torah reading of the 10 Commandents, Yizkor, and Study opportunities that can be accessed from home for adults and children. 

Parashat Hashavua with Shamai:   TONIGHT 6:00 pm 
Zoom in as we read THE...Read more...

I hope you and your family are faring well and are managing to help others as much as possible during this difficult time. While we are still unable to gather in shul, we have been holding services twice per day during the week and our menu of Zoom classes has become quite popular. We have found new ways to engage with our youth, adults, and seniors and to help many of our community members in need.

Last...Read more...

I hope this message finds you and your family in good health and good spirits. This Shabbat is called Shabbat Hagadol - the Great Shabbat because it precedes the festival of Passover. Unfortunately, this Shabbat does not feel so great. In fact, Passover isn’t looking too hot either. 

Folks are preparing for very lonely Seders. Children will be missing their parents, families and neighbors will not be joining together to share...Read more...

We have been following the news about Coronavirus (COVID-19), as have you. Please read the message below from our president and know that we are taking precautions at the synagogue to ensure the cleanest and healthiest possible conditions for our congregants. Most important is that if you don’t feel well, please don’t come to shul. So many in our community are in the higher risk category and it is always unsafe to expose them to even...Read more...

The first acts of God, as described in the opening verses of the Torah, were to create light and to separate the light from the darkness. Each Saturday night, when darkness falls and Shabbat ebbs away, we light a havdallah candle and praise God for distinguishing between light and dark.

Even in the parlance of our times, when one reveals information or puts a matter into perspective, we say they “shed light” on it, in order that...Read more...