online learning

August 1, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat D’varim (דברים) — “Many Hands Make Light Work:” The Importance and Challenge of Delegating

Parashat D’varim 2014/5774 (Triennial 1): “Many Hands Make Light Work”:The Importance and Challenge of Delegating In any position of leadership, it is important to be skillful in delegating authority. In this week’s Torah portion as we begin the book of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts how he “cannot bear the burden [of the people of Israel] himself” (Deuteronomy 1:9) and how he set out to delegate responsibility to other chiefs of Israel. This is not the first time that the Torah recounts Moses’ attempt to delegate responsibility (Exodus 18:13-27 and Numbers 11:11-15).  How are these accounts similar to or different from each other? What do each of them uniquely teach[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : d'varim delegating deuteronomy devarim God Jethro leaders leadership moses online learning online parashah class responsibility דברים

online learning

July 22, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Mattot (מטות) — Insights on the Road to War

Parashat Mattot 2014/5774 (Triennial 1): Insights on the Road to War Much of our attention this week is focused on the situation in Israel and the Gaza strip. As Israeli troops enter Gaza to protect the Israeli people from Kassam rockets, we read in this week's Torah portion (Mattot) of a different war, this one between the Israelites and the Midianites (Numbers Chapter 31). Are there any insights from this week's reading that will help us understand the issues of war and provide some insight on the challenges facing Israeli troops as they enter this conflict? Join us for this timely lesson!    Photo taken from Wikipedia -- http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Portal:Bible/Featured_article/2008

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : family Gaza Hamas IDF israel Midianites Moabites online learning online parashah class war

online learning

July 18, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Korah (קרח) — The Only Land of Milk and Honey

Parashat Korah 2014/5774 (Triennial I) Israel: The Only Land of Milk and Honey Today's learning will be for the sake of adding the light of Torah to the efforts undertaken to safely bring home Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrah, and Gilad Shaar.

In this week's Torah portion, the rebellious Korah challenges Moses by saying "Is it not enough that you brought us from a land flowing with milk and honey (i.e. Egypt) to have us die in the wilderness?" (Numbers 16:13). But isn't Israel the only land of milk and honey? We'll investigate how the Panim Yafot (an 18th Century rabbi from Poland & Germany)[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Uncategorized
Tag : honey israel korach korah milk online learning online parashah class panim yafot terrorism קרח

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June 13, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Sh’lah L’kha (שלח לך): The Religious Value of Doubting What You See and Desire

Parashat Sh’lah L’kha: The Religious Value of Doubting What You See and Desire In this week’s Torah portion we read the stories of twelve leaders of Israel who are commanded to “spy” (la-tur) the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:2). Yet at the end of the Torah portion, the  root t-u-r that was used earlier for the positive command “to spy” is used here as the negative command for the Israelites to “not follow (v’lo taturu) what they feel in their hearts and what they see with their eyes (Numbers 15:39).  What can we learn from the juxtaposition of different meanings for this same root? Why[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : desire doubt eyes God heart online learning online parashah class rashbam rashi see shelach lecha shelach lekha shelah lekha shelakh lekha sotah spies talmud tzitzit weekly torah portion

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June 11, 2014
By bethmordecai
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JOKE OF THE WEEK — Essence of Tradition

JOKE OF THE WEEK -- Essence of Tradition (June 8-14, 2014) // Post by Congregation Beth Mordecai.  

Category : Jokes Online Learning Social Media
Tag : arguing facebok joke joke of the week online learning social media tradition

online learning

June 6, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat B’ha-alot’khah (בהעלותך): Does God Need Light?

Parashat B'ha-alot'khah 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Does God Need Light? At the beginning of this week's Torah portion, we learn how the Israelites (and particularly the Levites) are instructed to light the m'norah in the Temple. But why is that light there? Do the people need the light to see in the Temple? Or does God need the light of the people? Or is there another purpose to this light altogether! Come join us for this fascinating conversation about the usage of light in our sacred spaces.

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : b'ha-alot'khah behaalotecha candles God light m'norah menorah online learning online parashah class parasha parsha rabeinu bachya rashi weekly torah portion בהעלותך

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June 3, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 49: Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה) within Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה)

Day 49 -- מלכות/שכינה שבמלכות/שכינה (Indwelling Presence within Indwelling Presence) Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote beautifully on revelation: "The nature of revelation, being an event in the realm of the ineffable is something which words cannot spell, which human language will never be able to portray. Our categories are not applicable to that which is both within and beyond the realm of matter and mind. In speaking about revelation, the more descriptive the terms, the less adequate is the description. "Revelation is a mystery for which reason has no concepts. "Collecting the memories of the sparks of illuminations we have perceived, the installments of insight that have been bestowed upon us through the years, we will find it impossible to remain certain of the impossibility of revelation." Today[...]