FOSTERING A VIBRANT RENEWAL OF JUDAISM IN POLAND
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 […]
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 […]
13 maja 2016/5 ijar 5776 On the surface, wool and linen don’t seem like that dangerous of a mixture, yet in the midst of this week’s parsha, we are commanded to never blend them: “You shall not let your cattle mate with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; […]
April 29th, 2016/28 Nisan 5776 Earlier this week, after an amazing nine months in Poland, I returned to the United States. The plane flight was long, as it always is, but it also gave me plenty of time to think and reflect. As the plane headed west and chased the daylight, the jet lag started […]
“All real living is meeting” -Martin Buber Nisan 21, 5776 On this final Shabbat of Pesach and on my final Shabbat in here in Poland, I would like to offer a few thoughts about the meaning of community and about how we can look ahead in our personal and communal journeys. In his book I […]
April 22nd, 2016/14 Nisan 5776 As we gather together for our Pesach seders this week, we hopefully will be blessed not only with good stories and plenty of singing and conversation, but also good food. Of course the most visible difference in the meals we eat during this week is our lack of bread, cakes, […]
