Judaism

Torah

Blessing the People With Love and Joy

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Does Birthright Stifle Teen Travel?

Shavuot

Synagogues Celebrate New Arrivals

Torah

Accounting for Life, and All of Its Treasures

PEKUDEI, Exodus 38:21-40:38

By:

Rabbi Joshua Runyan

With just six weeks until April 15, tax season is upon us. And as we all gather our receipts and statements in the push to make it to the filing deadline, it's perhaps comforting to know that no less than Moses was audited. According to a fascinating Midrash on the subject, he even requested it. This week's Torah portion begins...

Torah

Care for What You Have, Instead of Seeking More

VAYAKHEL, Exodus 35:1-38:20

By:

Rabbi Danielle Stillman

For her school picture this year, my daughter chose to wear a sweater my mother made for me when I was 3. That sweater, lovingly knitted, was then handed down to my sister, and cleaned and stored away till it could be given to my daughter. The sweater is in perfect condition. Care for things is rare these days. The...

Purim

Another Purim, Another Chance to Celebrate God's Presence

THE HOLIDAYS

By:

Rabbi Yonah Gross, Jewish Exponent Feature

On March 6, my wife and I will celebrate our second wedding anniversary. In that time, we have had three children, lived in four houses in three states, and moved cross-country twice. While this may seem like a lot, we did have six years worth of days to do it all. So why are we celebrating only our second wedding...

Torah

A Blast From the Past: Relevance to Egypt

KI TISSA, Exodus 30:11-34:35

By:

Rabbi Howard A. Addison

Ki Tissa signals the lowest historic point of Israel's faithlessness. Feeling abandoned by Moses, the people besiege Aaron to fashion a Golden Calf, proclaiming "this is the god who brought you out of Egypt." Imagine the extent of Moses' horror as he descends from his 40-day sojourn atop Sinai to scenes of illicit, idolatrous revelry. Critical commentators have offered several...

Torah

Holy Path From Sinai Illuminated by the Torah

TETZAVEH, Exodus 27:20-30:10

By:

Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Jewish Exponent Feature

After the revelation at Sinai, how do we meet the challenge of becoming "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation"? Moses repeats "all the commands ... and all the rules ... (and) the people answer with one voice: ... 'All the things that God has commanded we will do!' " The Torah translates that lofty hope into a clear...