Judaism

Torah

Blessing the People With Love and Joy

Local

Does Birthright Stifle Teen Travel?

Shavuot

Synagogues Celebrate New Arrivals

Torah

Heed the Directional Signals on Road of Life

By:

Rabbi Howard A. Addison

BEHAALOTECHA, Numbers 8:1-12:16 In Lake Jackson, Texas, there are two intersecting streets named "This Way" and "That Way." What might people ponder while standing at that corner? Are they pinpointing their location while considering nearby sites? Reflecting on whence they've come, whither they're going and what they're taking with? Parshah Behaalotecha has helped shape our Jewish observances and liturgy. Initially,...

Torah

Counting Each Other In as We Approach Sinai

By:

Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Jewish Exponent Feature

NASO, Numbers 4:21-7:89 The Book of Numbers is the Israelites' travelogue, recording our ancestors' journey through the wilderness. We read it this week as we conclude our own journey from Passover to Shavuot, counting the Omer and marking our way from Egyptian slavery to revelation at Sinai. How does this portion help to open our hearts for the powerful messages...

Local

Shavuot Provides the Ultimate Jewish Pick-Up Line

By:

Rabbi Eric Yanoff, Jewish Exponent Feature

What is the ultimate Jewish pick-up line? What is the line that forges that immediate connection, the words that provide the opening for a conversation, perhaps for a deeper relationship? Well, try this line on for size: "Hey -- didn't I see you at Sinai?" That's the ultimate Jewish pick-up line -- not because it works (don't worry -- I...

Food

At Shavuot, a Salute to the Land of Milk and Honey

By:

Ethel Hofman, Jewish Exponent Feature

THE JEWISH KITCHEN In ancient times, Israel was crowned "the land of milk and honey." And with the abundance of fine, fresh Israeli dairy products, this is still true today. Although everyone agrees that the food of choice for Shavuot is cheese, as in blintzes and kugels, there are many opinions as to why it has become customary to serve...

Torah

That Point When We All Were Nameless, Faceless

By:

Rabbi Joshua Runyan

B'MIDBAR, Numbers 1:1-4:20 Ever felt like you were just a number? It's a common complaint: In the hustle of modern life, many of us feel like we're lost in the crowd, nothing more than nameless, faceless entities wandering through time. This week's Torah portion, however, turns the concept of numbers on its head, for in the Jewish way of life,...