david kraemer

November 20, 2014
By bethmordecai
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DAY 873: In Trying to Process the Attack in a Jerusalem Synagogue

(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

david kraemer

November 10, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Adult Education GUEST Lecture: Dr. (Rabbi) David Kraemer

Join us for a VERY special guest lecture from renowned Talmudist, Professor, Librarian of the Jewish Theological Seminary DR. DAVID KRAEMER!  Date: 7:30 pm Thursday, November 20th 2014 Where: Congregation Beth Mordecai (224 High Street, Perth Amboy 08861) Topic: Food, Identity, and Blessings [caption id="attachment_4117" align="aligncenter" width="300" class=" "] Photo taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwartz's[/caption] Many assume that when we recite blessings for food (such as “hamotzi”), we are in effect blessing the food we are about to consume. In reality, though, blessings have a very different function and, understood correctly, they provide a crucial key to understanding the Jewish world-view. What do kashrut and blessings say about our relationship to this earth? This is the fundamental question Dr. Kraemer will address in his presentation. Photo taken from -- [...]