VaYikra 5783 Lev. 1:1 – 5:26 Rabbi Gary Pokras In Hebrew, both the name of the book of Leviticus and its first parasha get their name from the first word in the text: VaYikra. VaYikra means “And He called.” Usually, the Torah uses two different verbs to describe how God communicated with Moses: VaYidaber or […]
National Voter Registration Day – September 27, 2023 Again this year, Community of Action will partner with other National Voter Registration Day sponsors to support making sure our democracy works. Here are a few facts that tell why this day is important: Over 4 million Americans will turn 18 and be eligible to vote this […]
VaYakhel/Pekudei (Shabbat HaChodesh) 5783 Ex. 35:1 – 40:38 Rabbi Gary Pokras This week’s double portion brings us to the conclusion of both the book of Exodus and the construction of the mishkan (the sacred tent which contained the ark, also called the Tent of Meeting and the Tabernacle). “When Moses had finished the work, the […]
Ki Tissa 5783 Ex. 30:11 – 34:35 Rabbi Baht Weiss When do we lower the veil? At the end of Exodus 34, Moses has come down from Mount Sinai with the second set of tablets. In that moment something unexpected happens. “Moses was not aware that the skin of his face was radiant, since he […]
Purim 5783 Megilat Esther Rabbi Gary Pokras Purim is unique among all the Jewish holidays. One might think it is because we are commanded to drink to abandon, until we are so drunk, we cannot tell the difference between Haman and Mordechai. Or it could be the many delicious Hamantaschen we enjoy, or humorous and […]
Click the Icon or Text Below for More Information Tues. Apr. 410:30am Personal Passover Journeys: Exploring Our Own Four Questions with Karen Hoffman Wed. Apr. 5 Sunset First Night of Passover Thurs. Apr. 6 9:30am Passover Sing-a-long for Pre-School Families Thurs. Apr. 6 10:30am Passover Service and Matzah Brie Nosh Thurs. Apr. 6 6pm-9pm 2nd […]
Tetzaveh 5783 Ex. 27:20 – 30:10 Rabbi Baht Weiss In Parshat T’tzvaeh the Torah describes in painstaking detail how the Mishkan (the portable sanctuary) and all its ritual items are to be constructed. Among those ritual items was the breastplate, worn by the High Priest, while serving the Mishkan. The breastplate, with its four rows […]
Terumah 5783 Ex. 25:1 – 27:19 Rabbi Gary Pokras My father is a retired architect, and he used to keep an extra drafting table in our basement. As a child, I loved to play at designing grand structures and would use his drafting table to create many “masterpieces.” What I did not enjoy was figuring […]
Mishpatim (Shabbat Shekalim) 5783 Ex. 21:1 – 24:18 Rabbi Gary Pokras “You shall neither deceive a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” [Ex. 22:20] Among the most prevalent recurring themes in the Torah is the missive to care for the vulnerable in our midst, and to do so […]
Yitro 5783 Ex. 18:1 – 20:23 Rabbi Gary Pokras Parashat Yitro culminates with the dramatic revelation at Mount Sinai, where God spoke to Israel from the top of the Mount to give us the Ten Commandments. It begins, however, with a family reunion. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro [“Yitro” in Hebrew], is a great leader of his […]
