Pinchas – 5779 Numbers 25:10 – 30:1 This week, instead of offering my own commentary, I’d like to share a sermon by Rabbi Jack Riemer. I have never met Rabbi Riemer, who is a retired conservative rabbi in Florida, but have long admired his homiletical genius from afar. When I read this week’s sermon I […]
Saturday Morning Torah Study Every Saturday 9:00 am – 10:00 am Saturday morning Torah Study is open to anyone interested in lively discussion of our heritage and its roots. You are invited to join a verse by verse examination of the Torah, a close reading of the text where all opinions and commentaries are encouraged. […]
Balak – 5779 Numbers 22:2 – 25:9 “Mah Tovu Ohalecha Ya’akov, mishkenotecha Yisrael – How goodly are your tents O Jacob, your dwelling places O Israel!” [Num. 24:5] With these words the pagan prophet Balaam blessed the people of Israel, despite his commission from King Balak to send a destructive curse instead. How do we […]
Chukat – 5779 Numbers 20: 1-29 On these hot days, we can all relate to what it’s like to be thirsty. It was no different for the Israelites traveling in the wilderness in the area now known as Kadesh. Moses and Aaron’s sister Miriam, the Prophetess, who was one of the Israelite’s spiritual leaders has […]
Korach – 5779 Numbers 16:1 – 18:32 If the first part of the book of Numbers is about making plans to keep things in order, this middle part is about how life gets messy. Last week the Israelites were condemned to 40 years of wandering the in wilderness because they let their fears trump their […]
B’nai Mitzvah Timeline Torah Reading Haftorah Reading Leading the Service Speeches Speech Preparation Personal Pirke Avot Speech Your second opportunity to teach the congregation comes after you have finished chanting both Torah and Haftorah portions. Think of this second set of remarks as your opportunity to speak to the congregation about a topic of your […]
Student Guide Torah Reading Haftorah Reading Leading the Service Speeches Speech Preparation Writing Your D’var Torah and Haftarah D’var Torah The term “d’var Torah” literally means “a word about the Torah”. We use this term to describe a short set of remarks given by the one who is teaching the congregation something about a particular […]
