This week we have two very special guest bloggers, Dr. Barry Levy and his grandson, Judah Levy. Shabbat Shalom! Parashat Mishpatim contains one of the Torah's central legal texts. It is neither the first such text, nor the last, but several essential classes of law...
Light up our Learning
Chanukkah is one of my favorite Jewish holidays, but not for the reasons you may suspect. While I enjoy the foods, songs, and celebrations associated with the festival, every other Jewish holiday also has its own unique culinary, musical, and ritual elements. What...
Any Dream Will Do
Andrew Lloyd Webber was 17 years old when he began composing musical theater, the same age as Joseph when we first meet him in the Torah, in this week’s parasha. Joseph made Lloyd Webber famous when the play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat became his...
Bilingualism as a Jewish Value
The story of Jacob’s life, which continues in this week’s Torah reading, is a swashbuckling adventure. From his theft of Esau’s birthright and blessing, the tale continues with Jacob’s furtive escape from his vengeful and murderous brother, his dream about a stairway...
To Err is Human
While I deeply venerate our forefathers Abraham and Isaac, I find it difficult to relate to them. Abraham, at the age of 75, gives up everything he is familiar with in life to follow God to an unknown land, and is willing to sacrifice his only son. Isaac is obedient...When Life Imitates Art
I walked into our Kindergarten class while they were completing one of my favorite art projects, the Shabbat Box. A Shabbat Box is a shoebox-sized receptacle containing all of the basics for making Shabbat: A Kiddush cup, challah cover, booklet of blessings, candles...Akiva Calendar
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Rabbi Grossman’s Blog Corner
Rabbi Grossman's Corner
Parashat Mishpatim – guest bloggers Dr. Barry Levy and Judah Levy
Parashat Yitro – Questions for Discussion
In this week’s parshah, the Israelites travel through the desert towards Mount Sinai. There they prepare themselves to receive God’s Torah. Moses’ father-in-law, Yitro, brings Moses’ wife and children to meet up with him, and he offers Moses the valuable advice of...
Parshat Beshalach – by guest blogger, Carrie Mazoff
Carrie Mazoff Akiva parent and almuna Shortly after Am Israel leaves Egypt, Pharaoh changes his mind and chases after them. Of course, the Israelites find themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s men and the red sea. When G‑d instructs Moses to raise his staff over the...
Parashat Beshallach – The challenges of dependence
My daughter cut herself slicing a bagel the other morning. “Ah! I cut myself! What should I do?” My back was to her, so I turned briefly to look at her, and instinct told me this was more of a nick than a cut. With every ounce of restraint I could muster, I turned...
Parashat Bo – The Necessity of Asking
This week, I'd like to share a D'var Torah from Rabbi Sacks on Parashat Bo: The Necessity of Asking Questions By Rabbi Sacks Shabbat Shalom, Debbie
Parashat Va’eira – Change of heart
As parents, we anticipate the dangers our children may encounter and we attempt as best we can to protect them and teach them and guide them as they grow. When they are little, we remove all tiny items that may cause choking from within their reach. As their...
The Power of Vayigash
By Guest Blogger: Maharat Rachel Kohl Finegold In Parshat Vayigash, the brothers are locked in a struggle against Joseph (although they do not know his true identity, and they think he is an Egyptian ruler). The story unfolds like a dramatic movie or play… perhaps...
Parashat Miketz – Guest Blogger, Rabbi Grushcow
This week, our guest blogger is Rabbi Grushcow, Akiva parent and Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom: Our parsha, Miketz, continues the drama of Joseph and his brothers. Towards the end of the parsha, Joseph – whose brothers sold him into slavery – has risen...
Parashat Vayeshev – Lead by example
We’ve all laughed at the infamous adage: do as I say not as I do. Whether we’re telling our children to put down their electronic devices as we answer an email and text a friend, or insist they eat dinner before dessert as we brush away the crumbs from cookies we...
Parashat VAYISHLACH – Facing our Anxieties
For this week's Parashat, I'd like to pass along the following article... Facing Our Anxieties and Moving On VAYISHLACH, GENESIS 32:4−36:43 Shabbat Shalom, Debbie