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!
October 30, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
RABBI SAKS' WEEKLY ONLINE PARASHAH CLASS -- Watch the Latest Episode Here...
Take a "Torah" lunch break and join Rabbi Saks for his weekly Online Parashah class every Friday at 12 pm.
Watch episodes of Rabbi Saks' Online Parashah Class (according to the triennial cycle)
by clicking on this link or "Online Parashah Class" in the menu above
For a listing of classes according to each portion, click this link
Latest class...
Parashat Vayera 2015/5776: Where Is Home?
Beginning with Abraham, the Israelites are in constant search for home. Their existence is predicated upon the constant search for home and the reality of living in the diaspora or exile. Is it possible for the Israelites to truly ever reach home? Is it possible for us[...]
Category : Learning Online Learning Online Parashah Class videos-archive Tag : online learning online parashah class parashah parsha this week this week's episode
September 4, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat Ki Tavo 5775/2015 (Triennial II) -- The Power of Blessing
Blessings are all around us; some are hidden and some are plain to see. It is part of the human condition to search out blessings because we know they have power. But what is that power? What makes us yearn to say "I bless you" and to experience the feeling of being blessed?
Join us to discuss the power of blessing through the lens of four discrete blessings in this week's Torah portion (Deuteronomy 28:3-6).
Photo taken from -- Photo taken by C. Jill Reed on Flickr -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/mulmatsherm/
Category : home Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : k'li yakar k'li yaqar keli yakar keli yaqar Ki Tavo online learning online parashah class parasha parashah parsha
July 10, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat Pinhas 2015/5775 (Triennial II) -- Won't You Be My Messiah?
Rabbi Saks' weekly Online Parashah Class will share insight from the Jewish tradition on how YOU can identify the coming of the messiah. The messiah might be right next door...don't you want to find out!?!?
Picture from oren neu dag [Attribution]
Click here for a chronological listing of Rabbi Saks' Online Parashah Classes
Click here for a listing of Rabbi Saks' Online Parashah Classes by Torah Portion
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : abraham joshua heschel Book of Legends God king messiah Midrash online learning online parashah class parashah parsha pinchas pinhas priest prophets values weekly torah portion פנחס
May 23, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat B'midbar 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Size Doesn't Matter
In this week's Torah portion we read how the Tent of the Meeting is the place for Israel to gather and the place to house God's Presence in their journey through the desert. But how can one small place contain so many people and so much glory? It seems too small! Yet, there are other places in the Bible where "what is less is able to contain what is more." Can this teach us about the importance of "size" in the Bible, especially given the small size and great impact of the Jewish people? Is it possible that when it comes to things that[...]
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : b'midbar bamidbar chosen people numbers online learning online parashah class parashah parsha parshah size tent of meeting weekly torah portion במדבר
May 2, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat Emor Triennial I (2014/5774) -- A Disabled Priest?
This week's Torah portion, Parashat Emor, we learn that any priest who has a "defect" is not allowed to participate in the sacrificial offerings (Lev 21:17). Can we learn anything from this verse on the Torah's treatment of people with disabilities, including how they can participate in our communities? Join us for this important conversation!
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : emor online learning online parashah class parashah parsha parshat אמור
March 21, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
2014/5774 (Triennial I): A Strange Fire? In this week's Torah portion, Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu bring an "eish zarah," a strange fire, to the tabernacle and instead of having their gift accepted, they are personally consumed by a fire from God. What went wrong? What was this strange fire that God not only rejected but caused God to kill them? Can we learn anything from this episode about how we should or should not approach God in our worship? Join the class to find out! Classes from other years... 2013/5773 -- Why Is Pig So Unkosher? Details of Photo The Death of Nadab and Abihu, engraving by[...]
Category : home Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : aaron avihu fire nadav online learning online parashah class parashah parsha parshah sh'mini shemini weekly torah portion worship
December 27, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
2013/5774 (Triennial I) -- Where Does Aaron Come From? Where Does Torah Come From? The Torah is clear that Aaron, Moses' older brother (Exodus 7:7) is an important character in the Exodus story. But when does he appear on the scene? If he was older than Moses, how was he born when all male Israelite children were being killed? Perhaps by learning where Aaron comes from we can learn a little bit about where the Torah comes from.
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : online learning online parashah class parashah parashat parsha vaera
November 14, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
July 12, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
2013/5773 (Triennial III) -- Can God Be the Ultimate General? In this week's Parashah, we read Moses' retelling of the Israelites' military victories over other peoples of the ancient near east, and directs the Israelites on which peoples they will defeat in the future. Throughout this re-telling, God plays a central role -- it is not the Israelites' decision on which lands to conquer but rather God's decision based on God's promises to other nations on what lands belong to them. In this regard, God is acting like the Ultimate General, deciding what territory belongs to which people. Can this vision of God as an Ultimate General resonate with us today? Are we in control of our own land or are there other[...]
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : ancient near east d'varim deuteronomy devarim general God israelites online learning online parashah class parasha parashah parsha
November 30, 2012 By bethmordecai no comments.
2012/5773 (Triennial III) -- Strength and Love When is it important to show strength? When is it important to show love? Can you show both at the same time?
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : importance learning love online learning online parashah class parashah parsha parshah strength strength and love timing torah vayishlach vayishlah weekly torah portion