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!
November 20, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
(11/20/14), Most, if not all of us, are aware of the terrible crime committed the other day in a synagogue in Jerusalem. Terrorists murdered a group of Jewish worshippers while the worshippers were standing in the opposite direction -- to the east -- to davven the Amidah, a prayer recited by all Jews everywhere around the world. The symbolism of this horrible moment in an increasingly devastating conflict couldn't be more acute. The davveners were facing towards the center of Jewish worship -- the Temple Mount -- while their murderers attacked in response to purported fears that Jews wanted to take over the Temple Mount for Jewish worship. Despite occasional flare-ups, the fact that Jews pray towards the Temple Mount and Muslims pray[...]
Category : Adult Education Israeli News Jewish Current Events Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Services Shabbat Tag : adult education Amidah david kraemer israeli news jewish current events learning memory outrage rabbi rabbi's journal remember services shabbat
October 5, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
A Moving Tradition
Yom Kippur Day 5775 – October 4, 2014*
Rabbi Ari Saks
Congregation Beth Mordecai
A week ago today, on a quiet Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur a small group of Jews gathered at Beth Mordecai in Perth Amboy, NJ to schmooze, to learn, and to drink some schnapps. In addition to the laughs and the cajoling needed to convince everyone around the table that it was ok to drink before noon, we had some really interesting conversations about our shul and about Judaism in general. One comment that spurred some interesting discussion was when one of our community members, let’s call him David, said “I think that Judaism or all of religion for that matter is about comfort.” As[...]
Category : Rabbi Ritual Practice Sermons Yom Kippur Tag : Amidah comfort Granting Desires high holidays Jewish Home for Your Soul Jewish prayer Moving New Jersey Star Ledger prayer Rabban Gamliel rabbi rabbi eliezer Rabbi Gerald Zelizer sermons Sh'moneh Esrei tradition Un'taneh Tokef Unetaneh Tokef yizkor Yom Kippur