Tag Archives: Nahman of Bratslav

Shabbat Shoftim: Don’t Be Like Them, Be Like You

כִּ֤י אַתָּה֙ בָּ֣א אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ה’ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ לֹֽא־תִלְמַ֣ד לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת כְּתוֹעֲבֹ֖ת הַגּוֹיִ֥ם הָהֵֽם׃  When you enter the land that your God ‘ה is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abhorrent practices of those nations. (Devarim 18.9) מֶען טָאר זִיךְ נִישְׁט מְיַאֵשׁ זַיין – Men tor zich nisht m’ya’esh zayn  “It is forbiddenContinue reading “Shabbat Shoftim: Don’t Be Like Them, Be Like You”

Shabbat Mishpatim: From Egypt to…Purim?

מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹא־יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם From Egypt none shall appear before Me empty-handed (Ex 23.15)  The initial letters of Mimitzrayim Velo Yera’u Panai Rekam, “from Egypt none shall appear before Me empty-handed” spell פורים – Purim.  Today is Rosh Hodesh Adar I, the first day of Adar I, so called because this is a leap year,Continue reading “Shabbat Mishpatim: From Egypt to…Purim?”

Kol Nidre 5783: Hatanu L’fanekha – What Reflects Back

I. What is Evil? On Rosh HaShanah I offered you a drasha on the idea of community, and how mitzvot are the links that create meaningful Jewish community. Of course! I want to talk about community – after not being together in the fullness of our Kehillah Kedoshah since March of 2020 (and for meContinue reading “Kol Nidre 5783: Hatanu L’fanekha – What Reflects Back”

Shabbat Bereshit: Starting Over Again

Happy 5779! Every year at this time, our Jewish tradition invites us to consider the possibility of starting over in our lives; that it is possible, and more, that there is much Jewish wisdom to support one who seeks to return, to renew, to restart. On this Shabbat when we begin again with the beginning,Continue reading “Shabbat Bereshit: Starting Over Again”

Shabbat hol hamo’ed Sukkot: Why Bother?

The Festival of Sukkot is seven days long, no, wait, eight; literally, the Jewish folk tradition is that G*d didn’t want to part from us after seven days of joy together, and so asked us to wait one more day before going home. That last day is called Shemini Atzeret, literally, “stop here for an eighth [day].” It’sContinue reading “Shabbat hol hamo’ed Sukkot: Why Bother?”