Religious Life

When there was no more space in the synagogue in Nabagoye, Uganda, congregants would go outside, gathering under trees. But the branches weren’t enough to shield them from the rain during the East African country’s wet seasons, which last about half the year.

When there was no more space in the synagogue in Nabagoye, Uganda, congregants would go outside, gathering under trees. But the branches weren’t enough to shield them from the rain during the East African country’s wet seasons, which last about half the year.

Rabbi Shmuel Notik was on his way to blow the shofar on a Friday evening in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi when six men armed with knives intercepted him on a dark street.

Some people take great pride and pleasure in planning their Rosh Hashanah menus for weeks or months in advance, chugging away at kugels and cakes and soup to put in the freezer. I know my grandmother and Aunt Ruth both did their High Holidays cooking all summer so they would be “ready.”

As a young woman at Jewish holiday tables, I never felt comfortable with being the “woman in charge” of cooking. I associated that role with overcooking (too much food at the table) and pushing people to eat more food, even after they were full.

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It has taken many years for me to fully digest what happened on 9/11 — I suppose I was like a great many people — just moving along — getting on with life.

Jewish spiritual technology is like a freeze-dried wafer. This, according to students of Rabbi Zalman Shachter-Shalomi, was one of his most important teachings.

Eikev, Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 — When Moses references the desert that the Jews had just trekked, he uses a lot of adjectives and descriptors. He calls it, “The great, awesome desert; a place of snakes, serpents and scorpions, where there is thirst but no water.”

Va’etchanan, Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 — It’s been a long, hot summer.  There have been so many attacks and deaths that we list them by city – Orlando, Baghdad, Nice, Dallas, Istanbul, Quetta – obscuring individual names beneath the rubble and the blood. Week after week, we wonder why such cruelty exists, and whether someone we love will be hurt. We wonder what can be done to stop the violence.

Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of Av, has been a day of national mourning for thousands of years. Ever since our holy Temple has gone up in flames and the Jewish nation went into exile – once in 586 B.C. and then again in 70 A.D. – we have longed to return to Israel and rebuild the Temple. The return to Zion is reiterated in our prayers, in our liturgy and in our psalms. Although it is a sentiment that is present throughout the year, it peaks during this period of the year and comes to a crescendo on Tisha B’Av, the anniversary day of the actual destruction of the Temples.

Matot-Masei, Numbers 30:2-36:13 — This week, we read the double portion of Matot and Masei which concludes our reading of the Book of Leviticus, or Va-yikra. The first Parasha, Mattot (literally “flags” or “tribes”), relates some of the laws that were related to the Israelites such as the annulment of vows, battle with the Midianites, the division of the spoils of war, and the request of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Menashe to remain east of the Jordan river to raise their cattle.

Here is a list of some local Tisha B’Av programs. Traditional observances include reading the Book of Lamentations (Eicha) and kinnot (sad poems).

Jacob Steinmetz delivers the game’s final pitch on a heavenly Tuesday night, producing a neatly turned double play to wrap up a 10-0 victory for the Brooklyn Bluestorm team of 12-year-olds.

Balak, Numbers 22:2-25:9 — From out of nowhere, the cat jumped from behind the man and, in a perfect arc, landed solidly on the dining room table. He then leapt from the table onto the top of the refrigerator. One more split-second vault landed him above the kitchen cabinets. The cat turned toward the man below, who was paralyzed with shock at the dramatic display. Pausing for a moment, the cat glared at him with great precision. Message delivered. Message received.

It finally happened. My son is almost 9 months old, and this week, for the first time, a stranger came up to me and asked me to “take him somewhere else.” Even worse, it happened at synagogue.

Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32 — This week’s portion is arguably one of the most disturbing in the entire Torah. In the portion, Korach, a Levite, along with Datan and Aviram, and 250 chieftains, rebel against Moses. They question Moses’ authority and question who has entitled Moses to speak on behalf of the Israelite people.

Sh’lach Lecha, Numbers 13:1-15:41 — The tallis, or tallit (prayer shawl), with its tzitzit fringe strings hanging down from its four corners, is one of the most well-known Jewish symbols. In biblical and Talmudic times, the tallis looked considerably different. Six of the eight strands were the natural off-white wool color, like all of the strands on ours. Their remaining two strands were dyed with techeilet, a type of bright turquoise that made those two strings stand out starkly from the rest (the tradition of how to make the dye was then lost for centuries, but after extensive research, it is now being revived).

Naso, Numbers 4:21-7:89 — What is sin? “A person does not sin,” the Talmud comments on a verse in this week’s portion, “unless a spirit of folly has entered into him.” In other words, sin is simply an act of stupidity.

Bamidbar, Numbers 1:1-4:20 — When I was still a young man, a student studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem, there was a sign that hung above my bed. I’ve never forgotten what was emblazoned on that poster. It said: ”Don’t be so open minded, your brain falls out.” I stared at the sign for hours, resenting it with every fiber of my being, though I was never exactly sure why that was.

Behukotai, Leviticus 26:3-27:34 — The beginning of Parashat Behukotai describes the type of observance of the Torah that will result in meriting the great blessings listed subsequently. “If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them” (Leviticus 26:3).  The rabbis of the Midrash explain that since the second part of the verse is clearly talking about actually observing the commandments, “walk in My statues” refers to laboring in Torah study (see Rashi). Is “laboring” in Torah study meant to be taken literally? 

Traditional Judaism mandates that a minyan – a quorum of 10 – is required for communal prayer. What is the origin of a minyan and when do you need one?  

Kedoshim, Leviticus 19:1-20:27 — Our Torah portion this week, Parshat Kedoshim, proclaims, “God spoke to Moses, saying ... You shall be holy, for I am holy.” We use the word holy throughout our tradition, but often without a definition of what it truly means. We talk about the High Holy Days. We visit holy sites in Israel. In the kedushah, we say, “kadosh, kadosh, kadosh (holy holy holy) is the God of all hosts.” The Aramaic word Kaddish, from our prayer for mourning, means holy.

Acharei Mot, Leviticus 16:1-18:30 – Time passes us by day after day, turning into weeks; we flip page after page in our calendar. Before we realize it, another holiday is on the horizon, we prepare for it and eagerly anticipate its arrival. All too soon, however, it is over, we have passed it by with just some new fond memories of a pleasant time gone by. Is there something we can do – something with which to hold onto the receding holiday?

They survived unimaginable horrors, yet went on to live productive lives, despite the haunting memories, the profound loss and physical scars from years of deprivation. Now many Holocaust survivors need our assistance so they may live their twilight years with dignity in their homes and communities.