Thoughts for Shabbat Sukkot 5786

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom everyone. Sukkot is considered the most joyous of Jewish holidays. One of its biblical names is Z’man Simchateinu – “The time of our rejoicing”. It is actually our religious obligation to be happy on every day of Sukkot. And the best way, I believe, to achieve this goal is to please other people – your wife, husband, your children, parents, namely, everyone in your family and – best case scenario – everyone in your community.[…]

Thoughts on Parashat Nitzavim 5785

“You stand this day, all of you, before your God יהוה —your tribal heads, your elders, and your officials, every householder in Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to waterdrawer —to enter into the covenant of your God יהוה […] (Deuteronomy 29:9-11)

These words, spoken by Moses to the Israelites on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, echo across centuries to us, a small but vibrant Jewish community reborn in the heart of Poland. We live in unprecedented times, a world bursting with possibilities—technological marvels, global connections, and opportunities for renewal. Yet, these days are also turbulent, marked by civilizational and social tensions, from rising populism to global conflicts and the lingering shadows of antisemitism. The history of Polish Jews is a history of resilience and revival, and it infuses the message of parashat Nitzavim with hope, urging us to embrace our role in shaping a brighter future for ourselves, our people, and all humanity as we approach the High Holy Days.[…]