Three Steps to Achieving Greatness

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 10, 2023 | Shemot, Fear of God, God, Humility, Justice, Kindness and Compassion, Leadership

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz “You’re a lot shorter in person than I expected.” That is the phrase that actors hear most often. It is the flip side of the “larger than life” perception of famous people. Science fiction stories about time machines always portray the...

There is a Crisis of Leadership Today: The Bible’s Advice on Choosing a Good Leader

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 2, 2022 | Devarim, Humility, Leadership, Responsibility

“Vote for me and get a free puppy!” Can you imagine a politician campaigning on that platform? But the fact is that many politicians campaign on promises that are not much better than that. Vote for me and I will give you free stuff. Vote for me and I will bring world...

What is the Key to Avoiding Political Hatred and Jealousy?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 8, 2022 | Bamidbar, Community, Humility, Leadership

People are more polarized today than ever before with politics dividing families and shattering communities. The Bible established a system of leadership through service that may be the key to healing our broken polarized politics. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who served as...

The Yom Kippur Temple Service

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 25, 2022 | Shabbat, Yom Kippur, Acharei Mot, Holiness, Humility, Purity, Repentance, Temple

The Torah portion of Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16-18) describes the Temple service on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The Bible mandates 15 specific sacrifices and many other rituals for Yom Kippur, or Yom HaKippurim, outlined in Leviticus chapter 16. The literal...

7 PASSOVER TRADITIONS ANYONE CAN ADOPT

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 12, 2022 | Freedom, Passover, Humility

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the Jewish liberation by God from slavery in Egypt. In the Book of Exodus, the Hebrew Bible describes the Israelites freedom under the leadership of Moses. The holiday begins on the 15th of the Hebrew...

Why Does The First Word Of The Book Of Leviticus Have A Small Aleph?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 6, 2022 | Vayikra, God, Hebrew Language, Humility, Modesty

The Hebrew names of the books of the Torah are named for the first word that appears in each book. The Hebrew name of the the book of Leviticus, therefore, is Vayikra (וַיִּקְרָא), which means “And he called.” This calling refers to God calling out to Moses from...