Blogs

Traditionally Jews in America pray facing east towards Jerusalem.  However, in our sanctuary our Ark faces west. One tradition of praying towards Jerusalem (in our case east) comes from the Talmud:

One who was standing in prayer in the Diaspora, should focus his heart toward Eretz Yisrael…Consequently, one standing in prayer in the East turns to face west, and one standing in the West, turns to face...Read more...

In the Torah there are two mentions of the ten commandments.  Once mentioned in the book of Exodus and once in the Book of Deuteronomy.  The fourth commandment about shabbat instructs us with two different verbs concerning shabbat.  In Deuteronomy we are told to Shomer, to guard or protect the Sabbath, and in Exodus we are commanded to Zachor, remember Shabbat. 

You may have heard the term Shomer Shabbos. ...Read more...

 Ever since last week’s Shabbat message, I knew what I wanted to address in this week’s Shabbat message: the recent outbreak of anti-Semitic acts across the United States.  I had no idea what the content of the message would be, but I wanted to say--no, needed to say--something.  Over the course of the past week, I consulted a myriad of sources and people to try to come up with a something to say.  Secretly,...Read more...

During any given week if I am exposed to the same idea in different contexts, I tend to take notice.  This week the message of tolerance came to me in three forms.  The first (not in order) came in the form of an email sent late last night from Marty Cobern from the Christian Science Monitor.  The article asked the question “Is any conflict unsolvable?”  The author of the article describes contact...Read more...

I am very excited to let you know that we will begin to have outdoor services next Friday night starting at 7:00pm weather permitting.  The service will be a hybrid service so those who wish to join on Zoom will be able to engage that way.  (In the event of inclement weather, we will meet only on Zoom.)  I really want to thank our reopening committee who has worked so hard at ensuring we can return to the Temple in the safest...Read more...