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WAIT: Why Am I Talking? Rabbi Bonnie Koppell 1. WHY LISTENING IS IMPORTANT? Shema is the foundational prayer in Jewish life. We say it upon awakening, when going to sleep, and at the end of our lives. Shema! Listen! Listen to your own inner voice. Listen to the word of…
Towards the end of this week’s Torah portion, jam packed with 14 positive- thou shalt, and 27 negative- thou shalt not mitzvot, is the obscure ritual of the egla arufa- a calf that is decapitated. Why, you may ask, would one do such a thing? Well- this ritual takes place…
On Wednesday evening, our community will gather to usher in the year 5785. We traditionally read the parsha of Nitzavim on this Shabbat, the final Shabbat of the year, anticipating Selichot services tomorrow evening. We notice that the Hebrew root-lashuv- to return, occurs no less than ten times in…
This week’s parsha opens with one of those epic, profoundly moving, famous verses- (Deuteronomy 11:26)- “See, I set before you, today, blessing and curse.” The text continues to explain that the blessing will come from listening to, and, presumably, following the mitzvot. The curse from not doing so. It’s…
This week’s Torah portion. Balak, contains the well-known story of the talking donkey who tries to prevent the prophet Balaam from cursing the Israelite people. Balak, the king of Moab, hires him to curse the Israelites during the journey through the wilderness. Why, you might ask? Balak expresses fear that…
Let me start off by saying that I am pro-10 commandments. In Jewish tradition, we classically have 613 commandments, but the top ten are a pretty good start. In fact, without looking in your Shabbat bulletin, how many people can name all 10? (show of hands/shout out) THE TEN STATEMENTS…
On this Labor Day weekend, we can be so proud of the critical role of the Jewish community in supporting labor rights and union movements in this country. The holiday was first celebrated in 1882 and was formally established in 1887. The Jewish historical experience, marked by periods of oppression…
As we come together on this Shabbat, I want to speak for a moment about the controversy that erupted this week regarding a possible Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade which made abortion legal in 1973. First of all, let’s talk about the leak of this document. The Torah…
Thoughts on the Humbling Gift of Being Honored On October 5th at 5:55 p.m., Lea Plosker called to ask if I would accept the honor of being celebrated at this year’s gala. Will it surprise you to learn that, a) of course I said yes, and, b) I had written…
On being honored at the Temple Chai gala- I am feeling so much love in this room right now that it is a bit overwhelming. It’s too much for me. Can you feel it? I’ve been thinking a lot of the song “Everybody” by Ingrid Michaelson, which you have…