What do we expect from our synagogues?
In light of the new Pew study on Jewish affiliation, there will be a lot of hand-wringing about what the Jewish community can do to get people more engaged. My revolutionary suggestion? Get to synagogue
Articles
On the Threshold: Thoughts for Parashat Vayera
We sit at the threshold. We seek the presence of God through prayer and meditation. But our eyes wander outside to our fellow human beings. When we leave the threshold to help others, we aren’t actually leaving God’s presence. We are coming closer to Him and His will.
Stages of Life: Thoughts for Parashat Hayyei Sarah
Although Sarah was the same person from childhood to old age, she was very different at the various stages of life. She died when she was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years—each of the “years” signifying a new stage in life. Don’t we all go through various stages in life? Aren’t we all the “same person” throughout our lifetimes; but aren’t we also different?
Incorporating Sephardic Commentary in the Tanakh Curriculum
The more commentaries educators have in their own arsenal, the more they can fathom
Tanakh texts. They also are better equipped to provide more avenues for students to connect to
tradition and to respect legitimate diversity within a commitment to Torah.
Faith as Protest
Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks was the Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth.This excerpt is from his book, To Heal the World, and is reprinted by permission of Schocken Books, a division of Random House. This excerpt appeared in issue 2 of Conversations, the journal of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Rabbi Sacks passed away in November 2020.
Blessings and Curses: Thoughts for Parashat Lekh Lekha
When God assured blessings for those who bless Israel and curses for those who curse Israel, these were not idle promises. They are fulfilled every day of the week. We surely would like the haters to re-think their destructive ways and free themselves of the curses they have brought upon themselves and others. Those who choose blessing and life are themselves blessed. Those who choose cursing and death are themselves cursed.
A Study of Sephardic and Ashkenazic Liturgy--by Rabbi Hayyim Angel
The core of Jewish liturgy traces back to the early rabbinic period. Over the centuries, Sephardim and Ashkenazim developed different nuances in their prayer liturgies. It is valuable to learn about the differences that emerged, to see how rabbinic interpretations and cultures shaped the religious experiences underlying prayer.
How the Torah Broke with Ancient Political Thought
For the first time in history, the Torah presented a vision to the masses a vision with a radically different understanding of God and humanity. It introduced new understandings of the law, of political office, of military power, of taxation, of social welfare. What we find in the Torah is a platform for social order marked with the imprint of divinity.
Sabato Morais, Social Activist
Rabbi Morais understood that the bedrock of social justice is the brotherhood of mankind, and that this recognition carries with it the positive duty to make room actively for our fellow human beings. It is a message that has lost none of its freshness, and it speaks as much to our generation as to his.
Rabbi Hayyim Angel will give a four-part series on Zoom
On Mondays, October 28, November 4, 11, and 18, from 1:00-2:00 pm EST, Rabbi Hayyim Angel will give a four-part series. It is entitled, "How to Learn Tanakh: Four Illustrative Torah Stories. In this series, we will explore four different texts of the Torah, and weave through classical and contemporary commentary to unpack the meaning of each narrative. The series also will highlight learning methodology that applies to all Tanakh learning.