by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 23, 2023 | Judges, Israel, Revelation and Prophecy
By Rabbi Elie Mischel What is the point of studying the Book of Judges? Yes, I know this sounds heretical. But it’s a fair question! We live in a modern world that appears, at first glance, to have very little in common with the stories of the Book of Judges. The...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 4, 2022 | Ninth of Av, Isaiah, Redemption, Revelation and Prophecy, Temple
Everyone in high school was afraid of Mr. Brickman who we called “Mr. Brick Wall” behind his back. He was from the old school of teaching and any student who entered his classroom chewing gum would be wearing the gum on his nose until the bell rang. Mr. Brick Wall...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 21, 2022 | Revelation and Prophecy, Temple
What do you like to hear first, the good news or the bad news? Jeremiah is known as the prophet of destruction and rebuke. Indeed, he was given the unenviable task of warning the Jews of the impending destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. But were all of his...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 12, 2022 | God, Micah, Holiness, Revelation and Prophecy
“See that big guy over there? Aren’t you glad I saved you from him?” “What are you talking about? He never touched me.” “Yeah, but what he wanted to do to you was really awful.” “You mean he wanted to beat me up?” “No. What he wanted to do was much worse than even...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 9, 2022 | Naso, Judges, Hebrew Language, Israel, Messiah, Redemption, Revelation and Prophecy
It is not common for someone to take a Nazirite vow in modern times. The most notable exception was Rabbi David Cohen who, like Samson, became a Nazirite for life. And both of these Nazirites have a role in redemption. Every week, the reading of the Torah portion in...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 2, 2022 | Shavuot (Pentecost), Revelation and Prophecy
On June 15, 1967, Rabbi Norman Lamm delivered a lecture at The Jewish Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was the second day of the festival of Shavuot and five days after the Six-Day war had ended. In his passionate speech, the rabbi compared the Israeli...
