At least 40-50,000 people living in Poland today have one or more Jewish ancestors. Although a few thousand have recently discovered this long hidden fact, the majority of Poles with Jewish roots are unaware of their Jewish heritage. Now that Poland is a free country at last, an increasing number of members of the older […]
Modeling the Jewish Learning and Humanity of Our Late Teacher Rabbi Michael A. Signer.
Shoftim – 5774
Capital Punishment –When and why? In the Torah death is the appropriate punishment not only for murder but also for a series of other crimes: Rape of a married or a betrothed woman, adultery, beating one’s parents, and even deliberate desecration of the Sabbath Day… This weekly portion of ‘Shoftim’=Judges, imposes a restriction on court […]
The Night of the Jewish “Valentine’s Day”
The night of the Jewish “Valentine’s Day” -15th of the month of Av (Tu B’Av, August 11/12, 2014) is a popular day for weddings. It is the night of a full moon. We had no ready- made Chupa and had to build it by ourselves. Three of the people holding the Chupa are Jews by […]
Is Poland A Valley Of Dry Bones?
To understand this passage from the Biblical book of Ezekiel, you must know that the Hebrew word Ruach has four different meanings; wind, breath, spirit and inspiration. Our passage uses these various meanings in teaching God’s message to the depressed and despairing Jews living in exile in Babylonia. While living among the exiles from Judah […]
Jewish Youth Still Arrive In ‘An Israel Under Rocket Attack’
Despite rocket fire from Hamas terrorists in Gaza, six thousand young Jews including several from Poland who are searching for their Jewish roots, have arrived in Israel in the last several weeks to be part of a ten day ‘summer in Israel’ experience. “Seven groups arrived on July 24 just from from North America” said Gail […]
Reeh 5774
There is almost nothing more constant in human life than change. Each of us changes as we move from one stage in life to the next. Societies and cultures change with accumulated collective experience. Even the mitzvoth which were handed to us by former generations of Jews have been transformed radically since they were first […]