Mishpatim 5782 Exodus 21:1 – 24:18 Rabbi Gary Pokras Human beings are not rational creatures. We say we are rational, and we like to think we are rational, but we have the capacity, and at times the inclination, to be deeply irrational. Today, it feels like we are surrounded by irrationality. For all we […]
Yitro 5782 Exodus 18:1-20:23 Rabbi Baht Weiss In this week’s Torah portion Moses gets some friendly advice from his father-in-law-Yitro, or in English, Jethro. Yitro notices how hard his son-in-law has been working to care for the Jewish people. Like any good parent, Yitro is concerned—Is Moses sleeping enough? Spending enough time with his wife, Yitro’s daughter, Tzipora? Yitro asks Moses a question, […]
Beshalach 5782 Exodus 13:17-17:16 Rabbi Baht Weiss This week we experience one of the greatest miracles of all time: the parting of the Sea of Reeds. Just as the Egyptians are closing in on the Israelites, who are fleeing religious persecution and slavery, the waters miraculously part and the Israelites are safely able to cross dry land. […]
Bo 5782 Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 Rabbi Gary Pokras This week, the dramatic, awesome Plagues against Pharoah reach their terrible climax. In our Torah study group, several students inevitably share their discomfort with this these passages. They ask: Were all of these plagues really necessary? Why couldn’t God have found a gentler solution to free our people? How can […]
VaEira 5782 Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 Rabbi Gary Pokras We’ve all said it, at one time or another, or perhaps more often: “I told you so!” Oh, the frustration when we know better than them: “I told you this would/wouldn’t work! If you had just listened to me we would have saved so much time/aggravation/money.” In one […]
Shemot 5782 Exodus 1:1 – 6:1 Rabbi Gary Pokras A congregant once asked his rabbi, “why did you decide to become a rabbi?” Without hesitation she responded: “For the great hours and the excellent pay!” When I was a student, our class was asked the same question: “why did we decide to become rabbis?” As we each […]
Return to Community of Action Action In Montgomery County (AIM) AIM’s Year-End Report Highlights Accomplishments During 2022 Action in Montgomery (AIM) is a broad-based community power organization rooted in Montgomery County’s neighborhoods and congregations. We are non-partisan, multi-faith, multi-racial, and dedicated to making our county and state a better place to live and thrive (Mission statement […]
Return to Community of Action Reform Movement’s Religious Action Center (RAC) News Stats from Every Voice; Every Vote Campaign: Last fall’s RAC-sponsored postcard writing campaign engaged more than 700,000 voters in areas targeted for voter suppression during the 2022 US midterm and run-off elections. Over 9000 individuals representing 160 congregations participated in the campaign. Temple […]
Return to Community of Action The Literacy Council of Montgomery County The LCMC’s mission “is to advance social and economic equity for under-served adults through academic instruction and workforce development.” If you are interested in speaking with a congregant about his experience as an LCMC tutor, please reach out to Brad.
Return to Community of Action Working Toward Racial Equality in Montgomery County The Black and Brown Coalition was founded by Byron Jones (Montgomery County Chapter of the NAACP) and Diego Uriburi (Identity Inc.) in order to close the opportunity gap by advocating for educational equity for Black, Brown and low-income children through evidence-based policies. […]
