Congregation Beth Mordecai
Congregation Beth Mordecai
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
August 21, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
I'm writing this journal a little later than usual because, I'm sure like many of you, returning from a vacation requires a lot of catch up time. Projects to check, emails and phone calls to answer, deadlines to reach, the world certainly doesn't stop working even if you do. Before this summer's breaks, there was an added level of stress that made returning to work difficult: the feeling that when I'm not working, not much happens; the feeling of desperately being needed.
While your stress level increases because of it, this feeling of desperately being needed may also fill you with a sense of pride. It may lead you to believe that you are so important that you are always[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : ego evil inclination Genesis Rabbah pride rabbi rabbi's journal significant vacation yetzer hara
August 12, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Many of you have heard the tragic news of the untimely death of Robin Williams, a brilliant actor and comedian whose performances have entertained millions of people. I have especially fond memories from my youth of some of his most memorable performances, including Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, and Hook. He's one of the first performers I remember truly admiring. Yet his untimely and all-too-early death remind us that just because someone may be able to show great enthusiasm and joy on screen doesn't mean that it inherently translates to how someone may feel on the inside.
There is a teaching in the Book of D'varim (Deuteronomy) that speaks to me in this moment:
(הנסתרות לה' אלקינו והנגלות לנו ולבנינו עד[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : death Deuteronomy 29:28 God hidden hope rabbi rabbi's journal revealed Robin Williams
August 11, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Sometimes we tend to overthink, whether it's in our decision making or in our planning. We can get so caught up in the possibilities of what we can do and, at least in the case of our synagogue programming, trying to be innovative. Sometimes we spend too much time thinking about how to dress up the cover of the "book" we want to teach to make it shinier and more beautiful so more people pay attention. Yet, as is often the case, the most successful way to teach -- or to program or to plan -- is to keep it simple. As is often the case, the most successful way to teach is simply to open the book.
This past[...]
Category : Kidz Korner Perth Amboy News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : book children God's Army Ministries innovation kidz korner learning opening rabbi rabbi's journal simple simplicity torah
August 5, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Last night, our community gathered with Marlboro Jewish Center, Temple Beth Ahm, and Congregation Beth Ohr for a special communal observance of Tisha B'av. A number of the rabbis, including myself, had an opportunity to teach a little about the holiday prior to readingM'gillat Eikhah. I was particularly fascinated by the teaching of Rabbi Lisa Malik on the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, perhaps the most famous story related to the destruction of the second Temple.
The story, which you can find here, seemed pregnant with such meaning that I took the time today with one of our members to study it in more depth. (By the way, please feel free to drop in during[...]
Category : Holidays Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tishah B'av Uncategorized Tag : Bar Kamtza Congregation Beth Ahm Congregation Beth Ohr destruction fasting holidays jerusalem Kamtza Marlboro Jewish Center rabbi Rabbi Lisa Malik Rabbi Michael Pont Rabbi Yochanan Rabbi Yohanan rabbi's journal talmud Temple tisha b'av tishah b'av zealotry
July 17, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
(7/17/14),
You know that saying that "it's hard to see the forest through the trees?" I used to think it simply meant being unable to see the big picture when you're immersed in the details of what you're doing. Now I think it also means that even if you have a sense of the bigger picture of what you're doing, you may not be able to see the bigger picture of what the world is doing. That is to say that what we're doing is only a small part of what's happening in the world, and even if we are cognizant of how we impact the world, the world may have other things on its mind.
Take this week. Whether it is[...]
Category : Israeli News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : israel rabbi rabbi's journal
June 29, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, I just wanted to share a quick note letting you know that Rachel, Jonah, and I are headed on vacation to Camp Ramah in the Poconos for two weeks, returning on July 13th. While Rachel and I have spent many summers there as campers and as staff, this will be the first time we will be there as a family. It'll be Jonah's first introduction to a locale that holds a special place not only in his parents' hearts, but in the hearts of many members (and generations) of our respective families. In many ways, our shlep to the Poconos tomorrow feels like heading home and I'm excited that we can pass on the tradition of going to Camp[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal
June 24, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
(6/24/14),
When I started in my role as rabbi of Beth Mordecai there was a lot I didn't know. I didn't know much about board meetings, I didn't know what it would be like to run a High Holiday service with a cantor, I didn't know how my ideas would be received by the community. Nearly two years and much experience later, I have a better handle on some of these questions though more often than not an answer to one question leads to seeking answers for many more questions.
There is one question though of which the answer has evaded me since I started -- how can I successfully set up and maintain all of the tools in my possession and[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : foundation rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat
June 20, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
*Note: This message is longer than usual
Dear Hevreh,
I do not think Facebook is a great source for news. Not only is it hard to find posts posted not less than a week ago, but more importantly the posts I am able to read is not a representative sample of the news that's available for me to read. On one level this is my fault because though I may try, my circle of friends and colleagues is not broad enough to include all of the viewpoints I might need to hear. (That being said, is it realistic to work at being "Facebook friends" with complete strangers just to broaden my news feed? I know that the term "friend" is used loosely[...]
Category : Israeli News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Social Media Tag : facebook israel israeli news jewish people kidnapped klal yisrael peoplehood rabbi rabbi's journal social media teens terrorists
June 18, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Last week I was sitting at a table in the Menlo Park Mall for my weekly open "Ask the Rabbi" when I received a phone call from John*, a local resident who has come to me in the past for help with homelessness. Here is a not-so-exact version of our conversation:
Me: "Hi, John"
John: "Rabbi, are you at the mall?"
Me (a little surprised): "Um, yea."
John: "In the food court?"
Me: "Yes"
John: "Where? I don't see you?"
Me (turning around and seeing him): "Look behind you."
It turns out that John and some of his friends his saw the advertisement for "Ask the Rabbi" in the local paper and thought that instead of only coming to my door to ask for help in a crisis,[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : ask the rabbi homelessness maimonides rabbi rabbi's journal stories tz'dakah tzedakah צדקה
June 6, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
As we come out of a holiday full of meaningful Torah learning, I am reminded that no matter how enjoyable, how meaningful, or how special Torah learning can be it is not always easy to find the time to continue our learning. The blessing we are supposed to recite before learning Torah -- Barukh Attah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam Asher Kid'shanu B'mitzvotav V'tzivanu La-asok B'divrei Torah (Blessed Are You God King of the Universe Who Has Sanctified Us with Your Commandments and Commanded Us To Busy Ourselves With the Words of Torah) -- teaches us that like any business or occupation, Torah learning needs our time and effort.
Yet, how often do we actually busy ourselves with Torah? If we're[...]
Category : Bar and Bat Mitzvah Bar Mitzvah Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Shabbat Shavuot Tag : avima darnov bar and bat mitzvah hebrew corner partnership rabbi rabbi's journal rabbis shabbat shavuot torah