My Jewish Journey
Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky, Director of Jewish Life and Learning, shares insights on lessons from the Torah, Jewish customs and traditions and inspirational thoughts for personal growth.
Parshat Vayakhel
In reading this weeks’ portion, I came across an idea I had never thought about before. The Torah portion discusses the construction of the Mishkan, the first sanctuary the Jews built. Outside of the Mishkan was the altar, which was used for sacrifices. The altar and...
Parshat Ki Tisa – Maze Magic
Bnei Yisrael are afraid with Moshe gone. With the help of Moshe’s brother, Aharon, they build the Golden Calf or “egel hazahav”. Hashem is (understandably) quite angry and threatens to destroy everyone. With Moshe’s intervention, Bnei Yisrael are saved and receive the...
Parshat Tetzaveh – Does clothing make the man?
In this week’s parsha, the Torah discusses the clothing worn by the priests and High Priest Aaron. The priests are given the details of the fabrics, design and accessories. Sounds like a stylist’s dream? Perhaps not, if caftans and aprons are not your fashion...
Recipe for Parshat Tetzaveh
Parshat Tetzveh discusses the garments the Kohanim (priests) and Kohen Gadol (high priest) wore when they did the service in the Tabernacle. One of the most special items the Kohen Gadol wore was the Choshen. It was a square (approx. 10″), made out of multiple...
The Mishkan – Parshat Terumah
“And you will make for me a holy dwelling and I will dwell amidst them.” This week’s parsha contains the detailed description or blueprint for building the Tabernacle. If we examine the above verse written in the Torah, God says that he wants the Israelites to build...
Recipe for Parshat Terumah
Parsha Recipe – Terumah (No calories on Shabbat!) This week’s Torah reading focuses on the construction of the Mishkan (tabernacle). The Torah details the precise measurements and materials to be used in the construction of the Mishkan. According to Midrash each of...
Parshat Mishpatim
“And these are the laws which you shall put before them…” There are no less than 53 laws given in the Torah portion this week, establishing a civil code within the Torah. These detailed laws include how to: a) be responsible for someone else’s property, b) pay workers...
Recipe for Parshat Mishpatim
(from abtorah.com/parshadesserts) This week’s parsha discusses many different laws. One of them is that a man who is responsible for digging or uncovering an open pit would be held liable for damage the pit may cause for example, if an animal falls into the pit. We...
Parshat Yitro – Honoring Your Parents
The Ten Commandments are divided into two groups – the first five are commandments between Man and God, and the second five are commandments between Man and his fellow Man. The commandments between Man and his fellow Man are intuitive: do not murder, steal, be...
Tu B’Shvat Recipe – Kebabs with honey-yogurt dip
Shabbat Shalom! This week our recipe will be in honour of Tu Bishvat, the New Year for the trees. Kebabs with honey-yogurt dip Makes 4 servings Prep time: 10 min. Difficulty: Easy Ingredients • 8 fresh strawberries, rinsed; trimmed and halved • 8 green grapes,...
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Rabbi Grossman’s Blog Corner
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Parashat Be-Ha’alotekha – Is the fish ever free?
What are your children doing for the summer? Given the choice, one of mine would find a cozy corner, log onto an electronic device and Netflix or youtube the summer away, the second would ask me every day what activity I’d planned for each hour, and the third is used...
Parashat Naso – The Power or Privilege to Bless
My husband blesses our children on Friday night when we sit down to Shabbat dinner. If he is detained at the hospital and we bring in Shabbat without him, I make Kiddush and I make Ha-Motzi on the challah. But I don’t bless my daughters. I leave that for when he...
Parashat Ba-Midbar – Count your blessings
At a meeting the other evening, wanting to know if all the expected attendees were present, one of us counted, identifying each individual with a pointed index finger. A couple of us had a kind of instinctual prickle at the counting of Jewish people. Among certain...
Parashat Bekhukotai – Our covenant with God
My youngest daughter’s first words were “No waaay!” Adorable. Impossible not to laugh and smile and giggle and eat her every time she said it. Incredibly frustrating when I just want her to lie down or stop throwing her food on the floor. When I just want her to...
Parashat Behar – Humbly proud
“Can I get a glass of water?” “Can I have a spoon for my rice?” “I need a napkin.” “More spaghetti please.” When my children were little, I was firm about how they should sit at the table during meals. I kept them in booster seats longer than most because I wanted...
Parashat Emor – Is the mother always to blame?
We have a recurring joke in our family. I prepare a lavish, beautiful, delicious meal for 25 people and my husband comes to the table and asks, “Isn’t the turkey sliced perfectly?” In his own (special) way, he is commenting on the fact that I coordinated, cooked and...
Parashat Kedoshim – You shall be holy
“It’s not fair.” I’m sure we all hear it (too) often. Our children’s sense of right and wrong is definitive and categorical, with little room for nuance or consideration. In my house, there is nothing cuter than an indignant 7-year-old arguing for moral or ethical...
Parashat Acharei Mot – The Scapegoat
“I can’t find my iPod,” said my daughter just minutes after Havdalah one Saturday night. “Where did you leave it?” I asked. “On the kitchen table,” she replied. “Well, it has not been on the kitchen table all of Shabbat, so when did you last use it?” I asked....
Des racines et des ailes – 5 mai 2016
Ce jeudi nous avons marqué le Yom HaShoah et dans une semaine, le 9 mai, nous tiendrons notre grand évènement « Life Learning Worthy ». En pensant au sujet du billet de cette semaine, l’idée de faire le lien entre ces évènements et le Journal d’Anne Franck s’est...
Passover – When your children ask
“Can you buy crackers,” my daughter asks. “Sure,” I answer. “After Passover.” “But that’s in like three weeks,” she moans. “Yes,” I reply. “You will survive.” “Do we have any cookies?” she asks. “They’re finished.” “And you’re not buying more until after Passover?”...
