- Congregation Beth El–Keser Israel
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
…d on a full stomach, you’ll throw up.” Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine, though, come to think of it, Penicillin is probably the best medicine, or Prozac, or Botox. And people say, “That’s funny” when it’s not, and say “That’s not funny” when it is. And people say, “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry” which reminds me of some of our Temple board meetings, our Capital Campaign, the Rabbi singing ‘O Canada’ and the length of this…
…, although we do sell some tickets, our real problem is that we can’t give tickets away. That is, most American Jews do not come to synagogue on the High Holy Days and would not come even if we gave them free tickets. This fact represents a serious challenge to our community, one that should not be neglected. But the truth is, even if we gave away door prizes, many of “those” people are just not interested in coming. But there is another group out…
…rning and take pride in the students of our Conservative school. Torah Pathways Adult Education Torah Pathways is a discussion and study group which serves as part of a basic Judaism course. Special attention is placed on issues of concern to those considering conversion or in interfaith relationships and to those studying for Adult Bar/Bat Mitzva. Torah Pathways examines fundamental ideas and practices of traditional Judaism in an open and non-ju…
…igration, and faked medical or psychiatric exemptions.36 Moreover, a large number of youths conscientiously or ideologically opposed to military service accepted induction but did their best to get through the ordeal.37 Most of the case histories of objectors found in the literature indicate a high degree of ethical sensitivity and sincerity. A study done in September 1983 on the moral judgment of 36 reservists who had served jail sentences for re…
…no middle ground? No way to bless a child without dividing a family?25 No way to have merit without sacrificing equality? No way to have equality without sacrificing merit? No way to water the vital tree, but not the deadly one? * * * What we often forget is that these two blessings are not the only blessings of the parshah. When Rebecca tells Jacob to run, and Rebecca tricks Isaac a second time, creating the cover story for Jacob’s escape, Isaac…
…ene. Each member of the household has their own Hanukia, and each lights a number of lights corresponding to the number of the day of the holiday. We are fortunate that we are able to do this mitzva in such a complete and beautiful way. But what of the poor person who can not afford all of this “hidur mitzva” but must struggle to light even one lamp? The Mishna Berura, written at the beginning of the twentieth century by the Hafetz Hayim, comments…
…ich only enhanced my own sense of alienation and turmoil as a Jew. I was always waiting for the right time to run away. And so here I was again, taking another chance, hoping that this time I would not run. I realized as soon as I got to the retreat that I had made a huge mistake. I felt like an outsider…and all this beauty and joy was sprouting up all around me, and rather than it feeling inviting to me, it felt like a painful reminder of what I…
…y equal in all ways. Most men are stronger than women, but that’s just the way they are built and the way the public sees men. Because of that, some men try to keep in shape and try to maintain their male status in the public eye. This is all right with me, besides the fact that about half of the males I’ve ever met flaunt their strength somehow. I often wonder about guys who have to do that. Are they that insecure? Luckily women today don’t have…
…with land, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and they are sent away. Today’s story is much shorter than the other two. Rebekah is not actually taken away by the King, and she and Isaac remain in Gerar for some time. The deception is exposed when Abimelech sees them cavorting together — he sees Isaac fondling his wife in public. Abimelech reprimands Isaac, warns his people not to molest them, and Isaac and Rebekah apparently stay in the…
…e language of praise is cheap and formulaic. Suffice it to say that if the best way to teach is by example, Ruthie is the greatest teacher I know of emuna, of hesed, and of avoda — of faith, of steadfast love, of the holy work of worship. Without any irony, I can say that she is truly a giant. Which brings us back to the place we started, the theme of sacrifice. When our ancestors gave the first fruits of their harvests, an unblemished lamb, a kid…
