Paired Perspectives on the Parashah
Beshallah:
Natural Phenomena and Divine Purpose
Min haMuvhar
The Jews of Rhodes and Cos: In Memoriam
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is on January 27, 2026. We repost this sermon by Rabbi Marc D. Angel, originally delivered on July 26, 2014 at Congregation Ezra Bessaroth in Seattle, Washington, when the community marked the 70th anniversary of the deportation of Jews from the islands of Rhodes and Cos, nearly all of whom were murdered in Auschwitz.
Words and Spaces: Thoughts for Parashat Beshallah
This week’s Torah reading includes the “shirat hayam,” the song sung by Moses and the people of Israel after they miraculously crossed the Sea of Reeds. The Torah scroll presents the song in an unusual formation. Instead of the words following one another in order, the words of the song are interspersed with blank spaces. This format suggests a deeper lesson about life itself.
When Bigger is Better, by Rabbi Haskel Lookstein
Even before the covid pandemic, some had the feeling that "large synagogues" were facing serious problems. Rabbi Haskel Lookstein wrote an important article highlighting the importance of large synagogues. Looking beyond the pandemic era, we need to think carefully about our synagogues...and our community as a whole.
Upcoming Classes with Rabbi Hayyim Angel
The spring learning semester with Rabbi Hayyim Angel is just getting started!
Art Appreciation and Creativity Development in the Jewish Day School
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
—Albert Einstein
“Pyramids, cathedrals, and rockets exist not because of geometric theories of structures or thermodynamics, but because they were first a picture—literally a vision in the minds of those who built them.”
—Historian Eugene Ferguson
Did You Hear the One about the Sephardic Boy Who Walks into This Orthodox Yeshiva?
For the achievement of a moderate and observant next Jewish generation, there will need to be a synthesis of all the best qualities and approaches of like-minded approaches, from Modern Orthodox to Sephardic and beyond, creating a Jewish lifestyle that is neither extremely stringent or oppressive nor exceedingly indifferent to religious observance. I hope our religious leaders are up to the task.
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.
A Modesty Proposal: Rethinking Tseniut
Tseniut is not simply a system of prevention from sin. Rather, it encompasses a positive philosophy relating to the nature of human beings. While acknowledging the power of human sexuality, tseniut teaches that human beings are more than mere sexual beings.
Going Out on a Limb: Joha
A few spoons of inspired foolery can shape the way we view the world. In terrible times, dare we waste time on humor? Dare we not?