By Rabbi Yoel Kahn, PhD, DD, Congregation Beth El, Berkeley, CA June 11, 2016 This week’s Torah portion begins with precision in time and vagueness in geography. We begin reading this week from the fourth book of the Torah, parshat Bamidbar: The Eternal spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, […]
Emor
By Rabbi Alan Iser 20 May 2016/ 12 Iyar 5776 – Sometimes, the most significant concepts in Judaism are hidden in seemingly insignificant passages in the Torah. In this week’s Torah portion, Emor, at the end of a section dealing with the characteristics of which animals are acceptable for sacrifices, we learn of two very […]
Behar
By Rabbi Alan Iser 27 May 2016/19 Iyar 5776 – Warsaw has had some illustrious rabbis in its rich Jewish history. This evening, I would like to introduce you to an extraordinary rabbi who lived in the Warsaw Jewish community during its darkest hour, Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Shapira. He was the last Chassidic rebbe alive […]