FOSTERING A VIBRANT RENEWAL OF JUDAISM IN POLAND
I met Szira in Warsaw at Beit Warszawa. She was the temple librarian. The congregation had worked out an agreement with Alex Lauderback our neighbor in Encino, California. He is a man in his late 80’s, a Polish Holocaust survivor. Alex found Jewish books from synagogues and temples that had surplus Jewish books. He would […]
Shabbat HaGadol -5775 “The offering (minchah) of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant to Adonai as in the days of old and as in ancient years.” [Malachi 3:4] This verse, which begins the Haftarah on the Sabbath preceding Passover, Shabbat HaGadol, received a surprising modern Midrashic interpretation in the early 20th century. The noun ‘Minchah’ […]
Shabbat HaGadol -5775 “The offering (minchah) of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant to Adonai as in the days of old and as in ancient years.” [Malachi 3:4] This verse, which begins the Haftarah on the Sabbath preceding Passover, Shabbat HaGadol, received a surprising modern Midrashic interpretation in the early 20th century. The noun ‘Minchah’ […]
Shabbat haChodesh 5775 Why did God redeem us from slavery, persecution and suffering from Egypt, Babylon, and other countries already 3 times in our 35 centuries of history? The basic, common answer is simple: God promised Abraham to rescue his offspring. “VeHee sheamda laavoteinu velanu =This ancient Divine pledge secured our survival and the survival […]
Ki Tissa 5775 Why did Moses break the two tablets of the covenant? Did he do it deliberately or they simply fell off his hands and broke as they hit the mountain rock under him?An early reply for the second question is given by the ‘Masora’ which reads “shibarta” instead of “Shavarta” in Exodus 34:1 […]
The holiday of Purim at Beit Warszawa brought out the bakers. Led by Zivah Nativ, fifteen stalwarts volunteered to learn the fine art of the “three cornered” hat (Hamantaschen) that makes up part of the celebration of the holiday. The traditional cookie is filled with poppy seeds or fruit fillings. For Wednesday night costumes […]
