The Risk of Relationality Or: Why Confession Matters Why Must the Sacrifice Be Supplemen
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Spark, the Tribe Parasha Activity Sheet That Will Help You Bring Judaism to Life in a Varied and Exciting Way
Welcome to Spark, the Tribe Parasha activity sheet that will help you bring Judaism to life in a varied and exciting way. I’d like these activities to enthuse the children and show them how the Torah given almost 3500 years ago is still as relevant and as exciting in our lives today. Thank you for offering to run a Children’s Service, for all the hard work you put into it and for making a real difference to so many young people. The US is very proud of the numerous Children’s Services that are run every week across the UK and this would not happen without you. Spark gives you an overview of the weekly Parasha, songs, an activity, discussion questions or D’var Torah linked to the Parasha or important event that week. Every Children’s Service will be different, in terms of how many participants there are, their age range, its length and the varying abilities of the children. Please read through the document and find the activities that will best suit the needs of your group. It is advisable to read it before Shabbat in case there is some preparation that may be needed in advance. I am sure the children at your shul will benefit from Spark. Please be in touch if you have any queries, feedback or if we can be of any help. Thank you again for the work you do in enabling so many young Jews to access their heritage and traditions in such an exciting way. All it takes is a small spark of interest, to ignite a flame of passion for Judaism. -
Parshat Naso
Parshat Naso A free excerpt from the Kehot Publication Society's Chumash Bemidbar/Book of Numbers with commentary based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, produced by Chabad of California. The full volume is available for purchase at www.kehot.com. For personal use only. All rights reserved. The right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form, requires permission in writing from Chabad of California, Inc. THE TORAH - CHUMASH BEMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY BASED ON THE WORKS OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE Copyright © 2006-2009 by Chabad of California THE TORAHSecond,- revisedCHUMASH printingB 2009EMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARYA BprojectASED ON of THE WORKS OF ChabadTHE LUBAVITCH of CaliforniaREBBE 741 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-208-7511Copyright / Fax © 310-208-58112004 by ChabadPublished of California, by Inc. Kehot Publication Society 770 Eastern Parkway,Published Brooklyn, by New York 11213 Kehot718-774-4000 Publication / Fax 718-774-2718 Society 770 Eastern Parkway,[email protected] Brooklyn, New York 11213 718-774-4000 / Fax 718-774-2718 Order Department: 291 KingstonOrder Avenue, Department: Brooklyn, New York 11213 291 Kingston718-778-0226 Avenue / /Brooklyn, Fax 718-778-4148 New York 11213 718-778-0226www.kehot.com / Fax 718-778-4148 www.kehotonline.com All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book All rightsor portions reserved, thereof, including in any the form, right without to reproduce permission, this book or portionsin writing, thereof, from in anyChabad form, of without California, permission, Inc. in writing, from Chabad of California, Inc. The Kehot logo is a trademark ofThe Merkos Kehot L’Inyonei logo is a Chinuch,trademark Inc. -
Soulvivor Guide 5776
! THE H.A. YOM KIPPUR SOULVIVOR GUIDE 5776 ! !1 Dear Reader, There is one mitzvah that a person who has never sinned can ever accomplish, that is the mitzvah of teshuva. The very day of Yom Kippur calls upon us to reach deep within ourselves and to return to our ultimate source, Hashem. It is a tremendous gift that hashem accepts our teshuva. It is an even greater gift that it is considered a mitzvah! I once had a student who said “I know Rabbi how bad I was and I am sorry!” I responded by saying YOU are not bad only your actions. This student’s mistake is one we often make. While regret is an essential part of the teshuva process we must not confuse that with shame, the error of thinking that we are our actions and therefore we are bad. Hashem’s acceptance of our teshuva is a testament of his love for us. It reaffirms the notion that our essence is and always will be pure. Yom Kippur we are given stronger tools to polish our neshamot and reach ever greater heights of connection to Hashem. It is my hope that this Soulvivor Guide will enrich your Yom Kippur and encourage you to return! This booklet was written by fourteen young men and women in Hebrew Academy High School. These !2 creative students voluntarily took their time to contribute and create this wonderful and insightful guide. The students and I would like to thank Ms. Tia Ayrton for her wonderful input. We would also like to thank the teachers and staff for all their support and creative ideas. -
Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year
ROSH HASHANAH JEWISH NEW YEAR “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelite people thus: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts. You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall bring an offering by fire to the LORD.” (Lev. 23:23-25) ROSH HASHANAH, the first day of the seventh month (the month of Tishri), is celebrated as “New Year’s Day”. On that day the Jewish people wish one another Shanah Tovah, Happy New Year. ש נ ָׁהָׁטוֹב ָׁה Rosh HaShanah, however, is more than a celebration of a new calendar year; it is a new year for Sabbatical years, a new year for Jubilee years, and a new year for tithing vegetables. Rosh HaShanah is the BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD, the anniversary of creation—a fourfold event… DAY OF SHOFAR BLOWING NEW YEAR’S DAY One of the special features of the Rosh HaShanah prayer [ רֹאשָׁהַש נה] Rosh HaShanah THE DAY OF SHOFAR BLOWING services is the sounding of the shofar (the ram’s horn). The shofar, first heard at Sinai is [זִכְּ רוֹןָׁתְּ רּועה|יוֹםָׁתְּ רּועה] Zikaron Teruah|Yom Teruah THE DAY OF JUDGMENT heard again as a sign of the .coming redemption [יוֹםָׁהַדִ ין] Yom HaDin THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE THE DAY OF JUDGMENT It is believed that on Rosh [יוֹםָׁהַזִכְּ רוֹן] Yom HaZikaron HaShanah that the destiny of 1 all humankind is recorded in ‘the Book of Life’… “…On Rosh HaShanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed, how many will leave this world and how many will be born into it, who will live and who will die.. -
Yom Kippur 5781
בס"ד CEREMONY & CELEBRATION FAMILY EDITION WITH RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS YOM KIPPUR 5781 Yom Kippur in a Nutshell YOM KIPPUR is the holy of holies of Jewish who knew from their history that sin could be time, when we give an account of our lives. We punished by catastrophe. reflect on what has happened to us and what After the destruction of the Second Temple, we plan to do in the coming year. The single everything changed. There was no longer a most important lesson of Yom Kippur is that High Priest, no sacrifice, no Divine fire, no it’s never too late to change, start again, and Levites singing praises or crowds thronging the live differently from the way we’ve done in the precincts of Jerusalem and filling the Temple past. God forgives every mistake we’ve made as Mount. Above all, there was no Yom Kippur Points to long as we are honest in regretting it and doing ritual through which the people could find our best to put it right. Even if there’s nothing forgiveness. Ponder we regret, Yom Kippur makes us think about how to use the coming year in such a way as to It was then that a transformation took place How does Yom Kip- bring blessings into the lives of others by way of that must constitute one of the great creative 1pur help us focus on the future and on thanking God for all He has given us. responses to tragedy in history. Yom Kippur was transferred from the Temple in Jerusalem making a change? In ancient times Yom Kippur was celebrated to every synagogue in the world. -
Parsha Perspectives OZER ALPORT
PARSHAS NASO SIVAN 5768 7 JUNE 2008 Parsha Perspectives OZER ALPORT asked him why he was willing to part with such an irreplaceable and holy והקטירם הכהן המזבחה לחם אשה ניחח כל חלב לד‘ (3:16) family heirloom when he could have “The Kohen shall cause them to go up in smoke on the Altar, the food of easily attained a simple set of kosher tefillin. Rabbi Alter responded by the fire for a satisfying aroma, all the choice parts of Hashem.” quoting the words of Maimonides, who teaches that we must be willing to ast week we ended the book of Exodus, which revolved around the Exodus give up our most precious possessions from Egypt, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the construction for the sake of Hashem’s mitzvot. of the Tabernacle. This week, we begin the book of Leviticus, which deals L After studying the inspiring stories of largely with the laws pertaining to the Tabernacle and the Kohanim (Priests) who our forefathers in the book of Genesis served therein. and of their salvation from Egypt in the book of Exodus, many people find it Parshas Vayikra introduces us to a of the Gerrer Chassidim. He was once difficult to relate to the esoteric subjects number of the various Korbanos approached by one of his followers, discussed in the book of Leviticus. (sacrifices) which were offered in the who lamented that he had lost his Although Maimonides rules that Tabernacle and their pertinent laws. One tefillin. As tefillin are quite expensive, this concept of using our choicest of the sacrifices is the Korban Shelamim the man was also worried that it would possessions applies to all mitzvot, (Peace-Offering). -
2021/5781 High Holy Days WORSHIP INFORMATON ~
2021/5781 High Holy Days WORSHIP INFORMATON ~ Rosh HaShanah ~ S’lichot Service jointly w/ Ohavi Saturday September 12 8:00pm Zedek ~ Erev Rosh HaShanah Service Friday September 18 6:30pm ~ Morning Children’s Service Saturday September 19 9:00am ~ Morning Rosh HaShanah Service Saturday September 19 10:00am ~ Tashlich (location TBA) Saturday September 19 4:00pm ~ Insomniac Lounge: alternative Rosh Hashanah Service Saturday September 19 10:00pm Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur ~ Shofar Drive-thru Sunday September 20 11:00am ~ JCVT Vermont Shabbat Shuva Friday September 25 TBD Service ~ Insomniac Lounge: Shabbat Shuva Friday September 25 10:00pm meditation service ~ Shabbat Shuva Morning Service Saturday September 26 9:30am ~ Shabbat Shuva Torah Study Saturday September 26 10:30am Yom Kippur ~ Kol Nidre/Erev Yom Kippur Sunday September 27 6:30pm ~ Morning Children’s Service Monday September 28 9:00am ~ Morning Yom Kippur Service Monday September 28 10:00am ~ Yizkor Service Monday September 28 2:00pm ~ Making Prayer Real: Engaging Yom Kippur Monday September 28 3:00 pm ~ Minchah Service Monday September 28 4:30pm ~ Neilah Monday September 28 6:00pm ~ Break Fast Monday September 28 7:00pm Join us on ZOOM This year's High Holy Day services will be a different experience to what we are used to. Our services will be led by our rabbi, David Edleson, and our cantor Mark Leopold. Due to the pandemic and the significantly heightened risks of singing in closed spaces, we will not be celebrating in the Sanctuary but will continue our worship on ZOOM as we have been every Shabbat. -
Parashat Naso 5780
Parashat Naso 5780 Shabbat Shalom. This Shabbat’s portion, Naso, contains within it the laws concerning a Nazirite. A Nazir, or Nazirite in English, is someone who takes a vow to add additional restrictions upon him or herself particularly not drinking alcoholic beverages or any product of grapes and not cutting one’s hair or shaving. The Torah and the Jewish tradition have an ambivalent attitude towards the Nazir. On the one hand, the tradition sees the extra level of piety as praiseworthy, on the other hand, at the end of the period of the Nazirite vow (which usually was 30 days long), the Nazirite had to bring a sin offering. If they were doing something praiseworthy, why offer a sin offering at the end? Different commentators offered different explanations. Some saw it as sinful to not enjoy the world that G!d had created. The Torah characterized creation as good in the opening chapter of Genesis. Others thought that it was likely that the Nazir took on extra restrictions out of guilt for something excessive they had done that they were now responding to by doing something excessive via self-restrictions. Devotion can be a wonderful thing. I tend to admire people who can devote themselves to something such as great artists or writers who are so committed to their art, great scholars that are so committed to learning, or anyone actually who devotes her/himself to something that contributes positively to the world. It’s easy to overlook what their personal lives might be like. What do they sacrifice in order to devote themselves to whatever it is they devote themselves to? Devotion in itself is not necessarily a positive thing – it all depends on what the person devotes herself or himself to. -
A History of Teshuva the Winding Path of Penitence and Where It Leads
A History of Teshuva The Winding Path of Penitence and Where it Leads Shabbat Shuvah 5780 The Jewish Center Rabbi Yosie Levine לזכר נשמת הרב שמואל צבי בן יוסף הלוי 1 The following is excerpted and adapted from a story that appeared in Tablet Magazine in 2018 by Pini Dunner: Yechezkel Taub was born on October 7, 1895, in a small town in Poland. His father, Rabbi Yaakov Taub, was the “Rebbe” of Yabłona, a small town near Warsaw that was home to a vibrant Orthodox Jewish community. When R. Yaakov died in 1920, Yechezkel, 24 years old, suddenly found himself at the head of a prestigious and wealthy Hasidic sect. He took his position seriously and inspired his followers. In 1924, he was persuaded by a cousin, who was passionate about the land of Israel, that the future for Jews lay there rather than in Eastern Europe. With the support of his wealthier Hasidim, he and a few hundred of his followers moved to Palestine. They and another group of Hasidim were welcomed by Jewish officials and ended up buying land in the hills in the north of the country, close to Haifa. Their settlement became known as Kfar Hasidim. The new arrivals were welcomed with open arms. Notables came to see the remarkable phenomenon of Hasidic farmers for themselves. But very soon, things began to badly. There were disputes with the local Arab population. The Kishon River overflowed, flooding the valley and turning it into a swamp. There was an outbreak of malaria and a number of the settlers died. -
Spinning, Turning, and Reckoning Kol Nidre 5779 North Shore Temple Emanuel Rabbi Nicole K
Spinning, Turning, and Reckoning Kol Nidre 5779 North Shore Temple Emanuel Rabbi Nicole K. Roberts Ever since arriving in this country six years ago, I’ve been so fascinated by Australia’s Apology to the Stolen Generations. Perhaps this is because I come from a country that’s always so insufferably proud of itself. I’ve always known that one day, I’d speak about the Apology in a Yom Kippur sermon, because I imagined that in “Apology” writ large, on a national scale, there might be lessons for us as individuals—insights that could be applied to our own personal efforts to ask forgiveness, for things we’ve done wrong in our own lives. Perhaps insights gleaned from a societal teshuvah could assist with individual teshuvah—repentance. I realise, of course, that Australia’s Apology wasn’t perfect and it didn’t come easily: that not every individual citizen was on board with it, and that others feel saying “sorry” doesn’t go far enough—that words and confessions are empty without closing the gap in health, education, and opportunity. Nevertheless, the Apology does reflect a reckoning—an accounting of the country’s soul, if not its financial obligation. A reckoning requires self-reflection, courage, and imagination—self-examination and coming to terms with the darker chapters in our history, not just resting in the myths we’ve come to believe about ourselves. It takes a special people to be able to do this, and I admire you for it. My native country apologises every once in a while, but not very often. -
Naso 2017 Delivered by Rabbi Aaron Krupnick 6/3/17 Just a Few Moments Ago We Heard a Quote from This Week's Torah Portion, Naso
Naso 2017 Delivered by Rabbi Aaron Krupnick 6/3/17 Just a few moments ago we heard a quote from this week's Torah portion, Naso. We blessed the Dias family with Priestly Blessing, "The Yivarechecha," although since it is the blessing of the Kohanim, perhaps it would have been more appropriate, Alan, for you to bless us since you yourself are a Kohen. It is in this week's Torah portion that we read, "The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'Thus shall you bless the Israelites. Say to them: "May Lord bless you and protect you; May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.' (Num. 6:23-27) This is among the most ancient of all prayer texts we have in our sacred tradition, and one of the most familiar. It is very, very old: It was used by the Priests/Kohanim in the Temple; both Temples in fact. And it is used to this very day, not just for b'nai mitzvah, but as a blessing for many sacred Jewish occasions. We recite it over our children each and every Friday night. It is especially beautiful and poignant when it is said to the bride and groom under the chuppah. It is such a simple and beautiful blessing. The Birkhat Kohanim is the oldest biblical text extant, way older in fact than the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1979, the archeologist Gabriel Barkay was examining ancient burial caves at Ketef Hinnom, outside the walls of Jerusalem when a thirteen-year-old boy who was assisting Barkay discovered a hidden chamber. -
Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas a Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible
Judaism’s Life-Changing Ideas A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas.indd 1 6/8/20 6:29 PM Rabbi Jonathan Sacks JUDAISM’S LIFE-CHANGING IDEAS A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible The Phillips Family Edition Maggid Books & OU Press Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas.indd 3 6/8/20 6:29 PM The Phillips family are delighted to support the work of Rabbi Sacks. תשרי תשפ"א ,London, September 2020 Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas.indd 5 6/8/20 6:29 PM Contents Foreword: The Secret of Our Staying Power / Bari Weiss xiii Introduction: The Transformative Power of Ideas xvii Genesis Bereshit The Faith of God 3 Noaĥ The Trace of God 9 Lekh Lekha Inner-Directedness 13 Vayera The Space Between Us 17 Ĥayei Sara The World’s Oldest Man 21 Toledot Why Isaac? Why Jacob? 25 Vayetzeh Out of the Depths 31 Vayishlaĥ The Struggle of Faith 35 Vayeshev Improbable Endings and the Defeat of Despair 39 vii Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas.indd 7 6/8/20 6:29 PM Miketz Jews and Economics 45 Vayigash The First Psychotherapist 51 Vayeĥi What It Takes to Forgive 57 Exodus Shemot God Loves Those Who Argue 65 Va’era Free Will – Use It or Lose It 71 Bo The Story We Tell 77 Beshallaĥ The Longer, Shorter Road 81 Yitro The Bond of Loyalty and Love 85 Mishpatim The Power of Empathy 91 Teruma Why We Value What We Make 97 Tetzaveh Crushed for the Light 103 Ki Tissa Anger – Its Uses and Abuses 107 Vayak’hel Beyond the Self 113 Pekudei Making Space 119 viii Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas.indd 8 6/8/20 6:29 PM Leviticus Vayikra The Call 127 Tzav Giving Thanks 133 Shemini