TERUMAH Last night, I was walking the dog and I bumped into one my neighbours. After her dog greeted mine with a bath of licking, we discussed the road, the tree roots, the council, she asked me how things are with the antisemitism at the moment. Whenever I am asked this question, I pause and […]
This week, our Torah reading describes the creation of the world; it says that there was “tohu vavohu,” chaos, a void, unformed, primordial nothingness, described by Rabbi Oren Hayon as: “murky shadows and jagged edges, all colour muddled into an unseen, violent blur[1]” and from this raging darkness and swirling chaos, God spoke and created […]
This week, we read one of the most well-known and poignant parts of the Torah and includes the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gemarra, the birth of Ishmael and Isaac, the banishment of Hagar and her son, the promise that both Abraham’s children will father great nations, and the near sacrifice of […]
When God began to create heaven and earth, there was “tohu v’vohu”, with darkness over the surface of the deep and the spirit of God sweeping over the water, God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Recently, I heard the head of Jewish Life at Emanuel School, Adina Roth, explain that tohu […]
This Shabbat we celebrate the festival of Shemini Atzeret. This festival has always puzzled me. My confusion I believe is in part because in a Reform context where only one day of each festival is celebrated (following the practice in Israel), Shemini Atzeret and the following festival Simchat Torah, are celebrated together. As a result […]
To live a holy life After four years of not being in this sacred Heritage Sanctuary for the Yamim Noraim, we begin our New Year here with gratitude – and hopefully with inspiration and faith. Our inspiration comes from our surroundings and what our community has accomplished; our faith is that by engaging in this […]
A few years ago I was introduced to a wonderful and hilarious parody that discusses “If Xmas were a Jewish holiday…” (there are a number of editions of this parody, but they all deliver great entertainment value). I asked some of my non-Jewish friends if they had ever read or even heard of the parody, […]
