Episode 65: Minutes of Torah. Pekudei: Be Strong
The Cloud is a guiding force for the Israelites and for all of us
Episode 64: Hineni (Here I Am) - Minutes of Torah: Yitro
Yitro Episode 64: This week we read the Torah portion Yitro and we finally receive the Torah. In the Talmud Shabbat 88A, One Rabbi says that the Jewish people stood beneath the mountain and God overturned the mountain above the Jews like a tub and God said to them:
If you accept the Torah, excellent, and if not, there will be your burial. Sounds like coercion. Is it? Check out this episode .
Episode 62: Hineni (Here I Am): My Authentic Identity
On November 1, 2018 I gave a talk on Authentic Identities at Elon University, where I serve as the Campus Rabbi. The talk was shortly after the horrible events in Kentucky and Pittsburgh. I shared my story and journey of becoming a Jew and a rabbi. I talked about the racism I face in the Jewish community, antisemitism and our current political rhetoric. I hope you enjoy this special episode.
Episode 60: Minutes of Torah - Rosh Hodesh - Rebecca Cried Out to God and God Responded
In honor of Rosh Hodesh. I am dedicating this week's Minutes of Torah to all the women who have felt silenced
Episode 59: Jewish Prayer - Asher Yatzer - Thank you God for Making Me Exactly Who I Am
Welcome to Episode 59 of Hineni Jewish Prayer. Today we will focus on the prayer that is often called the bathroom blessing. Thanking God for allowing one to do their business in the morning. I don't see this blessing as simple a bathroom blessing. I see it as a blessing thanking God for creating me exactly who I am.
Episode 57: Minutes of Torah - Vayeira: Faith and Justice
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
This week we are in the Torah Portion Vayeira. My plan for today was to continue our conversation on faith but something jumped out at me as I was reading this week’s torah portion. So today we will talk about faith and Justice.
Episode 55: Minutes of Torah - Noah and Faith
Photo by Rachel Pfuetzner on Unsplash
I love it when my Jewish anniversary falls on the Torah Portion Noah. In 2004 I converted on the October 13th and the Torah Portion for that week was Noach. So there is a special place in my heart for this week’s Torah portion.
Episode 54: Minutes of Torah - Bereishit: Created in the Image of God
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
We learn that Human beings are created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. What a concept and probably the most important idea in the Torah we are all created in the image of God. To be created in God’s image is not just about the Awesomeness power of God it is also a statement of responsibility about the way we are to treat others. Do we see God in others? Do we recognize that all people are created in the image of God?
Episode 52: Minutes of Torah-Chukat: Asylum Seekers
One of the things that I love about the weekly Torah portion is that so often when I need a passage to speak to me about what is happening in our world today the words are there on the page and they jump out out at me. This week we are in the Torah portion Chukat.
Episode 49: Minutes of Torah - Passover A Time of Our Freedom
This coming shabbat is the start of passover we also call this holiday zman cherutainu - זְמָן חֵרוּתֵנוּ - a time of our freedom.
Episode 48: Minutes of Torah - Tzav and Giving Thanks
This week week we are in the the Torah portion Tzav. And I want to talk about giving thanks. In this week’s torah portion We learn that one who offers a Korban aka sacrifice for the purpose of giving thanks must eat that Korban on the day when it is offered and none of it shall be set aside until morning.