FOSTERING A VIBRANT RENEWAL OF JUDAISM IN POLAND
September 23rd, 2016/20 Elul 5776 – This week’s Torah reading celebrates the bringing of the first fruits (Deut. 26: 1 – 11) While in the forty years of wanderings the observance of some of the Torah’s teachings were on a theoretical level. Now during the last parts of Moses address in Deuteronomy he directs the people […]
Parashat Ke Tetse; Deutrronomy 21:10 to 25: 19 Have you ever wondered why the Shabbatot and other Jewish holidays begin in the evening? The rest of the world begins its observances and celebrations in the morning but Jews maintain this odd custom. We begin in the evening. The technical answer to the question is contained in the ordering of the words in […]
By Dr. Halina Postek Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, […]
29th of Av, 5775 – This week’s Torah portion Re’eh has a one word title. The title opens a series of observations set forth by Moses as he concludes his life’s work. Reading this week’s Torah portion and the entire book of Deuteronomy as an ethical will lends gravitas to the moment. Indeed the book is divided […]
Shabbat Devarim/Tisha B’Av, 5776 August 12-13 2016 – This coming Shabbat is the 9th Day of Av, Tisha b-Av. The Shabbat’s Torah reading is the opening of Moses’ oration encompassing most of the book Deuteronomy (Devarim). We will focus on this book next week. Our focus this week is on the “black fast.” This solemn commemoration […]
July 29th, 2016/23 Tammuz 5776 – Pinchas is an extremely problematic figure. The Jewish tradition developed several radically different approaches in teaching about this Torah portion. To bring you up to date. At the end of last week’s Torah portion Pinchas acts as judge, jury, and executioner. In his righteous indignation he kills a prince of […]
