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April 21, 2016 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
I never held a pistol before, let alone carried one in a gun holster snug tightly against my hip. Yet there I was, a rabbi and a police chaplain, armed in a training simulator at the Middlesex County Police training center to get a taste of what police officers experience on a daily basis. The wall length screen in front of me projected scenarios that police face, from traffic stops of armed bikers and arrest warrant fugitives to domestic violence calls. It was sobering, surreal even, to encounter these individuals on the screen who, through the wonders of technology, seemed so real. As our Captain said, even though you know it's not real your heart rate will increase as[...]
Category : Ari-archive Tag : God Guns high holidays passover Perth Amboy Police Chaplain Corps Police power rabbi rabbi's journal training
February 20, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat T'tzaveh 2015/5775 (Triennial II) -- Wearing Sacred Clothes
Judaism has many sacred clothes or garments including tallit (prayer), tefillin (boxes and straps for arm and head), and kippah (head covering). Likewise, in this week's second triennial reading of the Torah portion (Exodus 28:1-29:18), Aaron and his sons wear sacred clothes for their roles as priests. What is the purpose of these garments? What purpose do they serve when we wear them? And what's more, what happens when we take them off? Does its "power" wear off? How different are we supposed to feel when wearing these garments versus when we're not wearing them?
Join us for this fascinating class on the power of[...]
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : Clothes covering Exodus 28:31-29:18 garments online learning online parashah class power purpose ritual Sacred t'tzaveh tefillin tetzaveh triennial weekly torah portion
November 11, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
(11/11/14),
"The conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declarator and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficient ends of its institution"
- Preamble to the Bill of Rights (1789)
Dear Hevreh,
Today we celebrate Veterans' Day, a day in which we recall the sacrifices made (and to be made) by the men and women of our armed services to guard our nation and protect our freedoms. It has often struck me how the language we use in describing our armed services in America (like in[...]
Category : American Jewish News Perth Amboy News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : america american jewish news Bill of Rights Constitution constriction egypt freedom God kabbalah military mysticism perth amboy perth amboy news power rabbi rabbi's journal Syria tzimtzum
November 7, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat Vayera 2014/5775 (Triennial II) -- Raping Foreigners
In this week's Parashah, we read how the men of Sodom came to Lot's home to demand that he release the men staying in his home so "v'neid-ah otam, so that they can rape them (Genesis 19:5). This trope of raping foreigners is echoed later in the Bible in Judges 19:22. Why are the men in both of these stories doing this to the foreigners in their midst? What can these stories teach us about the power of rape and attitudes to foreigners? Do these stories have anything to teach us today?
Classes from other years:
Parshat Vayera[...]
Category : home Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : foreigners Genesis 19:5 home Judges 19:22 land online learning online parashah class power ramban rape sanhedrin sanhedrin 109a strangers talmud vayera weekly torah portion וירא
June 7, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
2013/5773 (Triennial III) -- The Fear of Losing Power The Torah makes it clear that the power to lead the Israelites belongs to Moses and then to Aaron. Yet no matter the legitimate claims for their power, the people rebel. Why don't they trust them? Watch this week's class as I discuss this question.
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : aaron israelites korach korah moses online learning online parashah class power