Parshas Shemini 5784

Parshat Shemini תשפד I was once asked, “Rabbi, you say that Judaism is the only true religion; the Christians say that Christianity is, and the Moslems say that Islam is! How do you know you are right?” I would like…

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Parshas Tzav 5784

Parshat Tzav תשפ"ד This week’s portion, Tzav, details the different types of animal or grain sacrifices that one may need to bring. A sacrifice is called a קרבן (korban), the root of which isקרב  - which means to bring close.…

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Purim 5784

Purim תשפ"ד  מגילת אסתר  (Megilat Esther), The Book of Esther, chronicles the series of events leading up to Haman’s death decree for every Jewish man, woman, and child, and the dramatic, unprecedented turn of events, which brought about their salvation…

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The Coffee Devil

The information presented below is based on an article by Jordan Weissman in The Atlantic magazine, which appeared on Dec 27, 2013. I had my first whole cup of coffee at the age of ten. Oh, how I savored that…

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Parshas Pekudei 5784

Parshat Pekudei תשפ"ד           This week’s portion begins by telling us (Exodus 38:21) that Moshe gave a reckoning of all the gold, silver, and brass that was used in the Mishkan’s (Tabernacle) construction. (כא) אֵלֶּה פְקוּדֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת אֲשֶׁר…

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