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!
September 25, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, 5 Reasons I love Torah.... #1 -- Every time I look at a piece of Torah, I find something new I never found before #2 -- Just looking at the letters as they drip with tradition and Godliness is a spiritual experience #3 -- Who knew that dancing with a scroll could be so much fun? #4 -- It grounds me, and reminds me to serve a higher purpose greater than myself #5 -- Recognizing that Torah does not only live in a book; it lives in our hearts, as our own Unique Torah What are some of the reasons YOU love Torah? What are some of the ways that Torah lives in YOUR heart? Come join us to explore those questions, and to have a fun[...]
Category : Holidays Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Simhat Torah Tag : holidays rabbi rabbi's journal simchat torah simhat torah
September 24, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
As I sit at my desk trying to think about how to describe our upcoming celebrations of the holidays of Sh'mini Atzeret and Simhat Torah, I'm struck by a particular thought. Judaism is a religion that thrives on anxiety. Now bear with me, for a moment -- we just celebrated the High Holidays which is a period of serious reflection as we consider the aspects of our character that we'd like to work on for the following year. Yet Rosh Hashanah is supposed to be a joyous holiday, and Yom Kippur is considered to be a Shabbat Shabbaton, the greatest of all Sabbaths, and no one would mistake Shabbat for a sad occassion. The juxtaposition of the solemnity[...]
Category : Holidays Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Rosh Hashanah Sh'mini Atzeret Simhat Torah Yom Kippur Tag : dance holidays joy rabbi's journal rosh hashana Rosh Hashanah sh'mini atzeret shemini atzeret simchat torah simhat torah Yom Kippur
September 12, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Rabbi Ari Saks Congregation Beth Mordecai High Holidays Bulletin Article, 5774 Last Friday, for the second day of Rosh Hashanah, we had a special and unique High Holiday experience that was not the normal, traditional service. The order of the service was different, there was no Torah service, and we had opportunities for discussion and some dancing, in addition to some other innovative methods used to enhance our Rosh Hashanah experience. Overall, the feedback has been that it was a fun and meaningful service. Yet the service would never have been possible if it were not for a combination of a unique quirk of the Jewish calendar and the unique customs in which we observe our holidays. The unique quirk of the Jewish calendar is the existence[...]
Category : Bulletin Articles Passover Rabbi Rosh Hashanah Sh'mini Atzeret Shavuot Simhat Torah Sukkot Yom Kippur Tag : 5774 attendance diaspora etrog halakhah high holidays history innovation israel Jewish calendar jewish law lulav mission lulav and etrog passover pesach pesah rabbi's tisch Rosh Hashanah sh'mini atzeret shemini atzeret simchat torah simhat torah sukkot torah unique high holiday experience Yom Kippur