Upcoming Events
- Hevra Kaddisha Day of Learning March 1, 2020 at 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Resilience, Renewal, and Resurrection, Part 5 April 5, 2020 at 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Resilience, Renewal, and Resurrection, Part 6 May 17, 2020 at 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Shabbaton in the Mountains August 6, 2020 at 4:00 pm – August 9, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Category Archives: Holidays
Before and Within
A strange Yom Kippur story was told by Rabbi Ishmael, a High Priest of the 2nd Temple: Once, I entered before and within (the Holy of Holies) to offer the incense and I saw Akatriel Yah, the Lord of Hosts, sitting on … Continue reading
Posted in Blessing, Days of Awe, Holidays, Poetry, Talmud
Leave a comment
Beginnings Ripe And Ripening
Rabbi Eliezer asks: From where do we learn that the world was created in Tishrei? From the verse: God said, let the earth sprout grasses, seed bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind on earth bearing fruit with the seed … Continue reading
Posted in Days of Awe, Holidays, Passover, Poetry, Talmud
2 Comments
Sinai’s Appealing Thunder
I will not float in space un-tethered lest a cloud obscure the very fine line in my heart that separates good and evil. I have no life-line without the lightning and the thunder that I heard at Sinai. (Click here … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Memory, Midrash, Poetry
Leave a comment
You Open For Him
Rabbi Eleazar HaKappar said: Do not be like a lintel overhead that no one can reach; neither, be like a door beam that injures faces, nor like a raised threshold that bruises feet. Rather, be like a low threshold that … Continue reading
More Moment Than Mountain
Ancient legends say that great mountains contended to be the site where God would reveal the Torah. But God did not have loftiness in mind: Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel presented themselves with pride as wide as the world saying: … Continue reading
“Pleas” Knock
That place, just above the latch to the left that no one has or ever will touch the place hidden, on which no one has laid a hand the place that does not know how to ask- It is the … Continue reading
Posted in Days of Awe, Holidays, Poetry, Prayer
2 Comments
Between the Mountain and the Moment
The last words of the Ten Commandments resound from Sinai and the narrative of revelation continues: All the people saw the thunder and the lightning, the blare of the horn and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Midrash, Poetry, Torah
3 Comments
A Passover Conversation in Four Voices
Four conversed about the pine tree. One defined it according to genus, species and variety. One held forth concerning its shortcomings in the lumber industry. One quoted verses about pine trees in numerous languages. One struck root, stretched out branches … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Passover, Poetry, Talmud
Leave a comment
The Lulav: Pointing To Creator and Creature at the Season of Creation
It is the manner of earthly monarchs to extend the scepter with favor towards a subject. During Sukkot, when the lulav becomes the scepter, it is the earthly, earthy subject who extends the scepter with favor towards the horizons and … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Midrash, Parshat HaShavuah, Poetry
4 Comments
Temporary Shelter
Twice a year the Jewish calendar offers the invitation and challenge to see the world differently. During Pesah, everything that was kosher the day before is no longer kosher. Six months later, during Sukkot, the temporary becomes permanent. For seven … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Poetry
5 Comments
