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!
April 22, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Yesod is the sephira of foundation, and also of reproductive energy, of sexual energy. Yesod within Hesed brings awareness of the future, the generative energy of continuity, within lovingkindness. The foundation of the future is built on the creative continuity of the past. Jewish tradition teaches us that each generation stands on the shoulders of the last. Thus we are able to see further into the future by standing on a firm foundation. Today we remember that this entire pyramid of generations is upported by story, memory, and love. Without the founation, the pyramid, like a tower of cheerleaders, can tumble. The parade of generations is like a caravan over time, where precious cargo is guarded and passed on at each[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : foundation generations love lovingkindness omer online learning past stories חסד יסוד
April 11, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Triennial I (2014/5774): There Is No Earlier and There Is No Later in Torah
The first words of our Torah portion begin with the words "aharei mot sh'nei b'nei aharon -- after the deaths of Aaron's sons." Yet the demise of Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu, happened three Torah portions earlier in Parashat Sh'mini, so why does the Torah have to teach us that our Torah portion occurs after their death! One explanation is that this proves that there is no earlier (past) or later (present) when it comes to the chronology of events as it is written in the Torah. During today's class we will explore this explanation to try to understand it's implications for the meaning of Torah -- should[...]
Category : home Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : chronology exegesis future history ibn ezra online learning online parashah class or hachayim or hahayyim past rashi torah
March 12, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
(3/14/14)
The Top 5 Reasons I'm Excited for Homecoming continues...
#4 -- Outlining a Vision
Ever since I arrived at Beth Mordecai I've heard of these wonderful stories about the Jewish life that used to be here. I've also heard some remarkable stories from people who aremaking a Jewish home at Beth Mordecai. The past and the present, separated by generations and by memories. What would it look like though to bring our past and our present together? Is there a shared bond based in our different experiences in this holy space to create a united, diverse, and extended Beth Mordecai community? I think there is; I think there is a bond waiting to be made that will create a far reaching, united, and meaningful[...]
Category : Homecoming Weekend Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : community homecoming weekend past present rabbi rabbi's journal united vision
February 7, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
In just a few days many of you will be receiving a thick envelope in the mail from the congregation, if you haven't already. This envelope is not your ordinary shul reminder. It does not contain a bill or a yahrtzeit letter or even a thank you note. No, this envelope constitutes a promise to remember where we came from as we move towards where we are going.
See, this envelope contains all of the information you will need about our upcoming Homecoming Weekend on March 14-16, including highlights (like our Schmooze Cruise and Brunch with Rabbis Barry Dov Schwartz and Melinda Zalma), scheduling, and registration forms. But more importantly, embedded within all of these details is the desire to bring our past closer to our present[...]
Category : Family Shabbat Homecoming Weekend Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Shabbat Tag : future homecoming week letters past present rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat
November 7, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Cherish zikkaron, cherish memory -- memory is the engine that drives our people forward because it binds our past together (Rosh Hashanah 5773 Day 2 Sermon -- Living the Inner Life of the Holidays) Dear Hevreh, During the bar mitzvah celebration this past Sunday, a number of people remarked how the sanctuary housed a deep spiritual presence of Jewish memory. Even though many of the attendees never stepped foot in our sanctuary before Sunday, they felt as if they were returning to where they came from. Memory, especially Jewish memory, is a powerful tool that binds us together as a people. Whether it's committing ourselves to never forget the atrocities done to our people or to simply enjoy our favorite Jewish "soul" food, powerful Jewish experiences seem to[...]
Category : Bar Mitzvah Rabbi's Journal Reunion Weekend Rosh Hashanah Tag : bar mitzvah memory past rabbi's journal reunion weekend vision