This week’s Torah reading is parashat Toldot: “Two nations are in your womb…One people shall be mightier than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” When her time to give
Read moreAlthough it is called Chayei Sarah (“the life of Sarah”), this week’s parasha is actually about her death. While grieving for his lifelong partner, Abraham purchases a burial site from the Hittites in a cave named Machpelah (located
Read moreIt is nearly Shabbat here in Israel and after a week of non-stop traveling, experiencing, learning and bonding as a community of 125 DC-area participants, Federation’s “Israel YOUR Way” and
Read moreIt’s been said that only 3% of the population likes classical music. But in a TED talk entitled, “The Transformative Power of Classical Music,” conductor Ben Zandler notes, “Everybody loves classical
Read moreHe told me proudly that it was his first day driving to school by himself. When I asked him if he had rolled the windows down and cranked up the radio
Read moreThe Torah readings on Simchat Torah, which begins at sundown on Monday, begin with the final portion in the Torah – V’Zot Haberacha (“and this is the blessing”) – in which
Read moreDuring the holiday of Sukkot, which begins Sunday night, we are commanded to “…live in booths seven days.”
Read moreNearing the end of the Torah, this week’s portion, Vayelech, is about transitions.
Read more“Happy New Year!” It’s a phrase we’ll hear often as we usher in the year 5776. We wish each other a sweet, healthy, prosperous, peaceful… and happy, year. But what
Read moreThis week’s parasha, Ki Tavo, opens with a commandment to the Children of Israel that, after settling the land that God has given them, they were to gather some of
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