‘Rabbi’s Journal’ Category

Rabbi’s Journal

September 16, 2022
By Beth Mordecai
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The World In Balance

Parashat Ki Tavo contains a stirring and dramatic scene. The whole nation of Israel is divided between two mountains, half on Mount Eval and half on Mount Grizim. There Moses preaches a set of blessings and curses, a set of instructions by which Israel will prosper or languish. As has been the main theme of the book of Deuteronomy, reward and punishment appear in this week's parashah as well. The idea of reward and punishment is based in the notion that as humans, and as Jews, we have free will. Our Torah is given in the form of commandments and with an accompanying sense that while these actions are obligated, we always have the choice whether to observe or not. The High[...]

Category : Rabbi's Journal Shabbat

Rabbi’s Journal

February 12, 2021
By Beth Mordecai
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The Day After Sinai

Parashat Mishpatim contains one of the largest collections of mitzvoth of any single parashah. It ranges from the laws of slavery, to property damage, to personal injury law, to some agricultural laws. If you can think of a legal matter that is about the proper functioning of society, it can be found in Mishpatim. (more…)

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Rabbi’s Journal

February 5, 2021
By Beth Mordecai
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The Commandment of Inclusion 

We are probably aware that the month of February is Black History Month. School children across the nation are exposed to black writers and thinkers as they devote classroom time to the history of black people in America. Given the events of last spring and summer, and the renewed spirit and energy in the fight for racial equity and justice, I pray that this time is being spent well and meaningfully. (more…)

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Rabbi’s Journal

December 18, 2020
By Beth Mordecai
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The Power of Dreams

• Shabbat Miketz 5781 • We find ourselves in the midst of the Joseph section of the book of Genesis. You know the story. Joseph, the second to youngest of 12 brothers, is sold into slavery for his annoying tendency to share his dreams which often depict him ruling over the family. As you might imagine there was some tension between Joseph and his siblings. Throughout the many chapters that cover Joseph’s life, there is one theme that runs throughout the story; dreams. Joseph’s tale begins with two dreams of his own followed by when he interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and baker in prison. This kindness ultimately saves his life where he is called up from captivity to share the[...]

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Rabbi’s Journal

December 11, 2020
By Beth Mordecai
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The Right Person at the Right Time

Sometimes even the smallest interactions have the greatest impacts. This is one of the best lessons that my teachers have taught me about the rabbinate. One kind word, a friendly head nod or well placed hand shake can sometimes make all the positive difference in a person’s experience. Conversely, one sarcastic remark or perceived slight can produce quite the opposite effects. I suspect that we have each had moments when someone offered us a kindness and it made our day so much better.  We may never know who those people are but they become part of our story. Joseph experiences this phenomenon in this week’s parashah. Asked by his father to go check on his brothers, Joseph is unable to find them in the fields of Schem. Luckily[...]

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Shabbat

Rabbi’s Journal

October 16, 2020
By Beth Mordecai
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The Torah: A Blueprint for Creativity

There is a Far-Side cartoon that depicts God creating the world. In it, God is seen wearing an apron and chef’s hat surrounded by all of the necessary ingredients to create the world. Shaking a container labeled “Jerks” onto the Earth a thought bubble appears from God’s head that reads “Just to make things interesting”. The image of God as cosmic chef or maybe even mad-scientist is a common one. A little of this, a little of that and voila! The world! But is that how our tradition views the creation? How exactly did God know how to create the world? To some this may be obvious. God, being an omnipotent deity, simply knew that this was the way the world needed[...]

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Rabbi’s Journal

October 9, 2020
By Beth Mordecai
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Torah is the Best Treasure

“Children, we have now Simches torah It's Simches torah all over the world Torah is the best treasure – At least that's what the rabbi says.” This verse, from a song entitled “Simches Toyre”, is a key to understanding just how joyous our final holiday of the season is.It is not simply an expression of our happiness that we get to begin the Torah from the beginning once again. Nor is it the release from a month of holidays, and eating, and praying, and eating that can cause some kind of ‘Jewish fatigue’ even amongst the most dedicated and committed among us. No. Simchat Torah is our opportunity, as a sacred community, to give honor to the core of our identity as a synagogue[...]

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Rabbi’s Journal

October 3, 2020
By Beth Mordecai
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Well-Being in our Sukkah

Commencing just four days after Yom Kippur is the holiday of Sukkot. One of the names of the holiday is zman simchateinu, the time of our communal joy. But what exactly is the joy of sukkot? One of the leading experts in joy or happiness is a professor at Penn named Arthur Seligman. Seligman is noted as amongst the founders of the field of positive psychology, if not the actual progenitor of the field itself. His first book, titled “Authentic Happiness” laid out his theory in which he breaks down happiness into three elements: 1) Positive emotion 2) engagement and 3) meaning. The idea was that happiness is the highest goal of human living. Later though, Seligman’s thinking changed. In his[...]

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Rabbi’s Journal

August 28, 2020
By Beth Mordecai
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When You Build a New House

This week’s Torah portion is Ki Teitze. It is a series of miscellaneous laws that Moses issues to the people in advance of entering the Promised Land. This set of laws is truly miscellaneous. They range in category from family law, to domestic laws, to returning lost objects and helping one’s neighbor. The parashah contains some agricultural laws about planting mixed fields and plowing with two different types of animals. There are marital laws, citizenship restrictions into the people of Israel, laws of conduct in wars, how to take a vow and the power that resides therein. Really the list goes on and on. It is a strange collection. Nevertheless, we seek out meaning in our Torah even from the what[...]

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Rabbi’s Journal

August 21, 2020
By Beth Mordecai
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Zooming into Prayer

Well, the end of summer is upon us. Sad I know. But we have the High Holy Days on the horizon, and the end of August to fill our cups for the road ahead. This has not been an easy five months since the Coronavirus entered our world. The next five months are anyone’s guess. Yet, as the unknown is presented before us I feel grateful to have the grounding of Congregation Beth Mordecai and for the spiritual sustenance that we can provide in pressing ahead despite our doubts and our fears. And in reflecting on what is to come, I often reflect on where I have been. The past few weeks of starting Shabbat with you, planning our High Holiday[...]

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