July 4, 2025 –  ח׳ תַּמּוּז תשפ”ה After 637 days of war, we are praying and hoping that the negotiations for a hostage return deal that would bring this war to a close will be successful, and that we will see a return of hostages as soon as possible. The 12-day war with Iran seems […]

אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי וְלֹֽא־שִׂמַּ֖חְתָּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃ (תהילים ל:ב) “I exalt You, יהוה, for You have lifted me up, and not let my enemies rejoice over me.” (Psalm 30:2) A Ceasefire between Iran and Israel was announced this week. Or, more accurately, a ceasefire was imposed and enforced. The ceasefire is a positive development, although […]

Friday June 20, 2025  – כ״ד סִיוָן We all know the age-old story in this week’s Torah portion, of the 12 scouts who returned to their encampment and reported back to their leader Moses. Their report gave two conflicting accounts. “This is what they told him: ‘We came to the land you sent us to; […]

Friday June 13, 2025 – Friday June 13, 2025 – י״ז סִיוָן תשפ”ה Rising Lions: Israel’s Attack on Iran Israelis were awoken at 3 am Friday to country-wide sirens urging them to head to safe rooms and shelters. Israel carried out a massive attack on Iran dubbed Operation “עם כלביא” (“Am K’Lavi”) – “Rising Lion” […]

Friday June 13, 2025 – י״ז סִיוָן תשפ”ה   At first glance, one might hear Likud MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan’s recent biting and demeaning outburst as a minor blip on a long timeline of right-wing and ultra-Orthodox tongue-lashings against Reform Jews and Reform Judaism. We have been called “snakes” by the late Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadiah […]