Shalom, On March 2nd, the two largest Jewish communities in the world – Israel and the U.S. – will be going to the polls to elect their representatives who will help determine the future of the Jewish people. Whether it’s a once in 5-year experience or, y’know, every 4 months, these elections are critical and […]
“Then he took the record of the covenant and read it aloud to the people. And they said, “All that the Adonai has spoken we will faithfully do!” (Exodus 24:7) Shalom, We had just left Egypt. We just experienced the most earth-shattering dramatic and transformational moment of our lives in receiving Torah from Sinai. But the pyrotechnics […]
By Rabbi Haim Shalom This week, we are, once again, standing at Sinai about to enter into our eternal covenant. But more than the thunder and lightning of Sinai and the covenant with the Eternal, I am always moved in this week’s parasha by a verse that highlights our covenant with each other. In […]
“And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph, who had exacted an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will be sure to take notice of you: then you shall carry up my bones from here with you.” (Exodus: 13:19) Shalom, Leaving Egypt can easily be described as the single most formative moment in […]
Shalom, The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not insoluble, despite the fact that it has yet to be resolved. Past American administrations have attempted to achieve this diplomatic holy grail, and while some have succeeded in achieving a lasting agreement/arrangement with Israel’s neighbors, no one – from Johnson to Obama – has succeeded in the ultimate ‘End […]
וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לִי לְעָם, וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים; וִידַעְתֶּם, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, הַמּוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם, מִתַּחַת סִבְלוֹת מִצְרָיִם. (שמות ו:ז) “And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am Adonai your God, who brought you out from under the […]
וַ֠יֵּרָא מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֵלָ֛יו בְּלַבַּת־אֵ֖שׁ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַסְּנֶ֑ה וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤ה הַסְּנֶה֙ בֹּעֵ֣ר בָּאֵ֔שׁ וְהַסְּנֶ֖ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֻכָּֽל׃ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אָסֻֽרָה־נָּ֣א וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה מַדּ֖וּעַ לֹא־יִבְעַ֥ר הַסְּנֶֽה׃ וַיַּ֥רְא יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֣י סָ֣ר לִרְא֑וֹת וַיִּקְרָא֩ אֵלָ֨יו אֱלֹהִ֜ים מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַסְּנֶ֗ה וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אַל־תִּקְרַ֣ב הֲלֹ֑ם שַׁל־נְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵעַ֣ל רַגְלֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר (שמות ג:ב-ה) אַתָּה֙ עוֹמֵ֣ד עָלָ֔יו אַדְמַת־קֹ֖דֶשׁ […]
Shalom, Walking through the vineyards on the rocky arid hillside of Kibbutz Tzuba, I couldn’t help but think of the blessing that Yaakov gives to his son Yehuda. There, among the ancient terraces spotted with limestone slabs, the rich dark purple fruit hung with abundance and pride in a pure display of fulfillment of that […]
Shalom, Something big is happening on Sunday. Something epic and momentous, that you won’t want to miss. If you’re in the New York area the entire Jewish community is coming together for a solidarity rally under the banner “No Hate. No Fear.” The Jan. 5 event comes in the wake of the brutal and deadly […]
Shalom, Joseph the dreamer dreamt, illuminated, and fulfilled dreams. He did so in an almost unimaginable way with such a rags to riches story. From the jail cell of a נַ֣עַר עִבְרִ֗י עֶ֚בֶד לְשַׂ֣ר הַטַּבָּחִ֔ים – this Hebrew youth, a servant of the chief steward; to the highest office in the land. Joseph seems to be […]