Jewish Practice

Jewish Practice

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  1. Evening . . . Mixtures and Beauty

    Commentary by Rabbi Samuel Barth on June 12, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    The rhythm of light and darkness is deeply embedded in our humanity. Even if we do not know the precise time (in hours and minutes), we are conscious of the cycle of day and night. The onset of night, as evening falls, is often associated with s ...

    chschwartz - June 12, 2013

  2. The Depth of Sight

    Commentary by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz on May 29, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    The Torah reading of Shelah Lekha is literally and figuratively an “eye opening” parashah. Quite strikingly, our narrative this week is bookended by sight. At the very beginning of the parashah, Moses speaks to those selected for the reconnaissanc ...

    chschwartz - May 29, 2013

  3. Harshness—Us and Them

    Commentary by Rabbi Samuel Barth on May 29, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    In the preliminary service ( Siddur Sim Shalom: A Prayerbook for Shabbat , 66), there is a short paragraph remarkably written in the first person singular—using “I” rather than “we.” In the Talmud (BT Berakhot 16b), there are a number of persona ...

    chschwartz - May 29, 2013

  4. Love—Great and Eternal

    Commentary by Rabbi Samuel Barth on May 24, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    The first paragraph of the Shema’ invites us to affirm the unity of God, and then engages the topic of love, the love from a person to God: “ ve’ahavat et Adonai Eloheykha ” (You shall love Adonai your God). Several important questions pre ...

    chschwartz - May 22, 2013

  5. Going to the Head of the Prayer Line

    Commentary by Rabbi Joel Alter on May 14, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    Sharp elbows at shul extend beyond the kiddushtable line and back into the sanctuary. Prayer—or giving honor to God—can be a competitive business. There are lots of reasons why this is so, and some of them even have to do with loving God. But sh ...

    bidistefano - May 14, 2013

  6. Shavu’ot—Hide and Seek with Torah

    Commentary by Rabbi Samuel Barth on May 14, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    In the kiddush we recite this evening, and in all the traditional services of Shavu’ot, we speak of “ chag haShavuot hazeh, z’man mattan Torateinu ” (This Festival of Shavu’ot, season of the giving of our Torah. [ Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat ...

    bidistefano - May 14, 2013

  7. Torah—Vision Beyond the Text (Part 2)

    Commentary by Rabbi Samuel Barth on May 8, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    Let us continue exploring, in these weeks before Shavu’ot, the metaphors of Torah in our liturgy. In the blessing immediately before the Shema’ in the morning service, we say “give light to our eyes through Your Torah” ( ha’er eyneynu beToratekha ...

    bidistefano - May 8, 2013

  8. How Do You Measure a Year?

    Commentary by Rabbi Abigail Treu on May 8, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    "Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?" ...

    chschwartz - May 10, 2013

  9. Torah—Vision Beyond the Text (Part 1)

    Commentary by Rabbi Samuel Barth on May 1, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    In these weeks leading to the festival of Shavu’ot, designated by the Rabbis as Z’man matan Torateinu (Season of the Giving of Torah), let us look at the way that Torah appears in our liturgy. Torah refers, of course, to the humash —the ...

    bidistefano - May 1, 2013

  10. The Promise of Security

    Commentary by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz on May 1, 2013 in Jewish Practice

    Parashat Behukkotai opens with a dramatic quid pro quo. Provided the Israelites follow God’s laws and teachings, great blessings will be bestowed upon the Nation. We are told that rain will come at its proper season, the earth will yield of its fr ...

    bidistefano - May 1, 2013

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