Dear Friends,

This week’s Torah portion, the third from the Book of Numbers, is B’Ha’Alotekha. The Parasha begins:

The Lord spoke to Moses saying: Speak to Aaron and say to him “When you light (B’Ha’Alotekha) the lamps, towards the face of the Menorah, shall the seven laps cast light.”

Anyone who recites the blessings over Shabbat candles knows that the usual Hebrew verb for “lighting” is Lehadlik.… Read more »

Dear Friends,

While this message may seem to duplicate many of the things that I wrote in my May echo column, I would like to send this early edition of the Billboard to remind you of some wonderful upcoming events at Beth El during the next few days.… Read more »

Dear Friends,

There are some Sabbaths that have special names associated with them.  The Sabbath before Yom Kippur is called “Shabbat Shuvah,” the Sabbath of Return.  The Sabbath before Passover is called “Shabbat Hagadol,” or the Great Sabbath.… Read more »

Dear Friends,

This Shabbat we conclude the reading of the book of Vayikra (Leviticus) with the double portion of B’Har and B’Hukotai.  In it we are presented with many laws that speak to a time when the Israelites will enter the Promised Land.… Read more »

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Dear Friends,

This week we read Parashat Emor which deals predominantly with the special status of the Kohanim (the priests) and their obligation to live lives of purity and free from any number of spiritual contaminants.  Towards the end of the Torah portion, there is a survey of all the biblical holy days that we Jews celebrate throughout the year – from Shabbat, to the High Holy Days, as well as the Pilgrimage Festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.… Read more »

Dear Friends,

This week, we read the double Torah portions of Aharey Mot – Kedoshim.  Among the many laws, most of which deal with the rituals of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle), there stands an important Mitzvah which deals more with our attitudes than with our actions:

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. … Read more »

Dear Friends,

In this week’s double portion of Tazria and Metzora, we read about matters of purity and impurity.   One of the impurities discussed in great detail is Tzara’at (biblical leprosy, which medically is not the same as leprosy as we know it today). … Read more »

Dear Friends,

We have all heard about the irony of certain oxymorons: peace force, plastic glasses, government organization, military intelligence,and many more.  But the one oxymoron referred to by Jews to describe something that is most definitely wrong is “Kosher Chazer Feesel” (Kosher pig’s feet).… Read more »

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