Stories,photos
193 results total, viewing 131 - 140
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Most people, it seems, are quite familiar with one the Torah’s basic explanations for the obligation to eat matzah, unleavened bread made from one of five species of grain (wheat, barley, …
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d'Var Torah
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4/15/16
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A group from Temple Beth-El, in Providence, traveled to Cuba on Feb. 10 laden with donations for our Jewish brethren, filled with enthusiasm and the spirit of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Even as we delivered our bags filled with …
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d'Var Torah
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3/17/16
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This week’s Torah parashah, Vayakhel, Exodus 35:1–38:20, begins with Moses addressing the Israelites. Nu? That is not unusual as the words from God directing Moshe to “tell the Children of Israel” this, and that, come quite frequently. …
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d'Var Torah
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3/3/16
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In this week’s Parashat Tetzaveh, we read about the special garments worn by the Kohanim (Priests) when serving in the Tabernacle. It is clear that these vestments were designed to make their wearers feel special, …
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d'Var Torah
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2/19/16
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Just a week ago, I heard a TV news commentator discussing one of the presidential contenders’ positions on a particular subject. He described the hardline posture as “Old Testament” strictness, as opposed to “New Testament” forbearance, …
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d'Var Torah
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2/5/16
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In the dead of winter, the full moon of Shevat rises and whispers the promise of Spring. It is called “Rosh Hashanah of the Tree,” because it marks the very beginning of the fruit growing process. Beneath rough lifeless bark, there is a hidden …
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d'Var Torah
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1/22/16
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There is nothing that the Hebrew Bible seems to despise more than worshipping anything that is not God. Of all the sins proscribed in our most sacred texts, the most obnoxious to God is the sin of idolatry. And there is no idolater who is more …
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d'Var Torah
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1/7/16
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One of the oldest mitzvot in Judaism is “bikur cholim,” which literally means to “visit the sick.” It is a mitzvah identified in our daily prayers, and is one of the most important obligations that a Jew is supposed to fulfill as …
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d'Var Torah
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12/25/15
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The standard religious school lesson teaches that we celebrate Hanukkah because although there was only enough oil in the Temple for one day, this tiny amount of oil burned for 8 days, and thus we celebrate by lighting candles for eight days. …
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d'Var Torah
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12/11/15
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One of the things I love about the Torah is the humanity of the people portrayed in it. We see believable emotions, ones that we recognize in ourselves, despite the age of the narrative. For these last few parashiyot (Torah portions) …
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d'Var Torah
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11/27/15
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