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…eekly study of the Mishna, leading to Gemara study, will be held in the Beit Midrash on Thursday mornings 10a–11a with Rabbi Tilsen. The Talmud, based on an oral text, has no beginning or end. One can begin study at any point; now is the best time. No prior knowledge is required, but basic facility in English is helpful; students with all backgrounds are welcome, beginner to advanced. Coffee and tea are available in the room. For information conta…
…10 Mar Abraham’s Tent March 10, 2015 5:30 pm – 11:30 pm BEKI Abraham’s Tent is a community-based program with Columbus House which, through the generosity of local religious congregations and organizations, provides shelter and case management for […] More Info…
…the community. Passages like those we’ve already discussed, or perhaps the best example that comes to mind, the curses of Deuteronomy upon those who disobey G‐d’s mitzvot, reveal a community that has suffered extreme violence. They put the violence they have actually experienced, the horrors they have actually witnessed—the experience of a violent and community‐shattering exile—and turned them into Divine threats. This serves as a means of explain…
…s perception of reality. As it is, I feel my grip on reality is tenuous at best. While some have noted that loss of connection to reality is not really such a great loss, given the state of reality, I have a commitment to remain engaged and to improve it, even if only in a miniscule way, through performance of mitzvot. Some recreational drugs contribute to undesired genetic mutation. The thought of damaging my future offspring has led me to defer…
…irst most important, or, as the Talmud has it, aharon aharon haviv, is the best saved for last? But where does that leave Ina? Perhaps she is it like a queen traveling with part of her retinue in front and part behind. There were six possible orders, but 70 possible reasons for the order. That is why Talmud scholars can’t navigate – by the time they have considered all of the possible interpreta tions of the highway sign, they are long past the ex…
…o deserve destruction,” is that — I’m not making this up — they committed “bestiality,” i.e., mating across species, a sin the natural consequences of which would compromise the species’ prospect for survival!) In our day, advocates for “Animal Rights” have taken extreme measures to protest and protect against the exploitation of animals. The sentiment behind this is noble, represents valid Torah values, and implements several specific mitsvot. Be…
…ying herself and helping others. I’d like to thank my Dad for so much. The best compliment someone could give me is for them to say that I remind them of my Dad because he has shown me how to treat others with respect and kindness while still having fun. To my brother, Ben, for not minding when I practiced for my bar mitzvah over the breakfast table and in the car. To my sister, Julia, for always believing in me even when I doubted myself. To my G…
…you please talk about something else, because we know our father loves you best and it really hurts our feelings and if you keep talking about it, we’re going to do something bad to you.” And that’s what they did; they made plans to kill him and instead sold him as a slave. What they did was awful. They shouldn’t have sent away their brother. They broke their father’s heart because Yaqov really believed that Yosef was killed by a wild beast. And t…
…decide that he’d prefer to memorize every city the Ringling Bros. Circus visits on its cross-country tour. During the past few months, as we were helping Shai prepare for reaching the age of mitzvot, he has encountered many opportunities in which to learn how to take on greater levels of responsibility. A few months ago, Shai expressed interest in coming to shul for Shabbat morning services. After going to shul on only rare occasions for years, Sh…
…09 Mar Abraham’s Tent March 9, 2015 5:30 pm – 11:30 pm BEKI Abraham’s Tent is a community-based program with Columbus House which, through the generosity of local religious congregations and organizations, provides shelter and case management for […] More Info…