An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
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October 2, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat V'zot Hab'rakhah 2015/5776: The Power of Blessing -- Can Blessings Tell Us the Future?
In the first chapter of the Torah's last portion (Deuteronomy 33), Moses grants blessings to the 12 tribes of Israel much in the same way that Jacob offers his final words to his 12 sons at the end of Genesis (Genesis 49). The parallels are striking including specific phrases and metaphors to describe the sons/tribes. What's also striking is that Moses is said to offer the tribes a "blessing" (Deuteronomy 33:1) whereas Jacob is said to offer his sons insight into what will happen in "the latter days" i.e. the future (Genesis 49:1). Since Moses seems to be doing the same thing as Jacob with using the[...]
Category : home Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : blessing future online learning online parashah class V'zot Hab'rakhah Vezot Hab'rakhah weekly torah portion וזאת הברכה
July 22, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
(7/22/15),
In one of my recent journal entries, I described how some of the latest political issues, most notably the Iranian deal, are poised to pull the Jewish community apart. Likewise, worsening affiliation rates, merging institutions, and less activism make us wonder at times what the future of the American Jewish community will look like.
Well, if it's anything like these past weeks, I can say that future is very bright. Whether it's young Jews gathering to spend quality time together and being engaged in meaningful Jewish life, or dancing and singing Jewish liturgy in full public view, or the ability to have difficult convesrations of important topics with Jews from multiple communities, there is[...]
Category : Ari-archive Tag : ask the rabbi bright future Iran Deal joy rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat by the sea tisha b'av YJPA
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
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