learning

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

learning

August 11, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Hebrew Program

LEARN & PRACTICE HEBREW Individual Hebrew Practice - Date & Time TBD with Rabbi - Cost TBD In this independent study program, participants will meet with the rabbi 1-on-1 for 30 minutes to learn and practice their Hebrew. Designed for beginners but open to all, the course will utilize the book “Teach Yourself How to Read Hebrew” as well as online tutorials. During the 1-on-1 meetings, participants will have the opportunity to review the homework in the book or practice a prayer/reading they are learning on their own. If interested, please email Rabbi Saks (ari.saks@gmail.com). Group Hebrew Practice - 2nd Thursday of the month - 7:00pm - Free Come to practice your Hebrew skills for 30 minutes on the 2nd Thursday of each month, beginning September 11. Participants will be partnered[...]

Category : Hebrew Learning Online Learning
Tag : hebrew learning

learning

By bethmordecai
no comments.

DAY 772: The Simplicity (and Splendor) of Opening the Book

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

learning

April 30, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 15: Lovingkindness (חסד) within Harmony (תפארת)

"We know that each individual is part of a large, harmonious system that has been unfolding for millions of years. We honor our ancestors’ struggles to harmonize contradictions, to find calm in paradox, and we are grateful to them for capturing some of that struggle in writing. The Talmud, for example is full of legal discussions, chronicling attempts to resolve opposing opinions about the proper interpretation of Jewish law. It also contains hundreds of stories and anecdotes, examples of the attempts of our ancestors to choose honorable ways to live their lives. Study of sacred texts and wisdom literature is at the heart of the Jewish spiritual path" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.100) For other days of the Omer,[...]

Category : Omer Online Learning
Tag : balance chesed harmony hesed jewish text learning love lovingkindness omer online learning sacred text tiferet חסד תפארת

learning

January 28, 2014
By bethmordecai
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DAY 577: Daily Learning Insight — Prayer Can Be A Powerful Weapon

Dear Hevreh,   Yesterday I wrote about the importance of setting our priorities to do things that are important but not critical otherwise we might never get to those important items. The specific example I raised about myself is the importance of praying and learning every day. As such, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you some of my learning from yesterday which, ironically, was about the importance of prayer.   Rav Nahman of Breslov writes in his book Likkutei Moharan (2:2) that "prayer is the weapon of the messiah" (k'lei zeyno shel moshiah). One of the examples he brings to prove his point is an interpretation of Genesis 48:22, in which Jacob is on his death bed[...]

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal
Tag : baba bathra gemara isaiah learning prayer psalms rabbi rabbi's journal rav nahman of breslov Twitter weapon

learning

January 27, 2014
By bethmordecai
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RABBI’S JOURNAL DAY 576: Setting Our Priorities

Dear Hevreh, I am blessed with the opportunity in my role as your rabbi to make my own schedule, a blessing I treasure especially because I know how many of us are forced to conform to other people's schedules. Yet, no matter how much each one of us is able to choose our schedules, inevitably we are faced with decisions on how to spend our time in which we feel like we our schedule runs our lives as opposed to us running our schedules.    At the beginning of each week, I try to plan how I'm going to spend my time during that week, determining which projects will receive attention and which ones will be put on the back burner. Each week I[...]

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal
Tag : learning prayer priorities rabbi rabbi's journal

learning

January 10, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat B’shalah (בשלח) — How Do We and God Interact in this World?

2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Parashat B'shalah: How Do We and God Interact in this World? 
Parashat B'shalah, with it's famous story of the splitting of the Sea of Reeds, seems to teach us how God can come down to the human world and save human beings, like the Israelites. Yet towards the beginning of the parashah in Exodus 13:8, the Torah teaches us that the Isralites left Egypt "armed" (hamushim) -- why would they need to be armed if God was going to save them from the Egyptians? Shouldn't they just have had faith without the need to physically protect themselves? Or does God want us to protect ourselves before stepping[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : armed b'shalach b'shalah b'shallach beshalach beshallach exodus God hamushim interact israelites joseph joshua learning online learning online parashah class parsha pharaoh rabbi arieh trugman souls weekly torah portion

learning

January 7, 2014
By bethmordecai
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KIDZ KORNER — Parashat Hukkat: How Snakes Help Us Confront Our Fears

In this week's Torah portion, God sends snakes to help the Israelites face their fears as they travel through the dessert. Thanks to our friends G-dcast for this interesting, animated description of the week's parashah. QUESTION TO CONSIDER: What are the fears that each of us face? Why do we have those fears and how can we confront them together? Share your thoughts in the comments.   // Post by Congregation Beth Mordecai.

Category : Kidz Korner Online Learning
Tag : chukat G-dcast hukat hukkat kidz korner learning online learning snakes