by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 20, 2023 | Psalms, Tests and Trials
I hate tests. I never understood the point of throwing a difficult problem at someone in order to see what they know or what they can do. As a teacher, I preferred to sit down with my student and discuss the material. In that manner, I learned more from my students...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 28, 2023 | Judges, Community, Israel, Tests and Trials
By Rabbi Elie Mischel It was one of the very worst moments in modern Jewish history. On May 14, 1948, Israel was reborn. Five Arab nations immediately invaded the new state of Israel, which would have to fight for its life with a limited supply of guns and ammunition....
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 7, 2023 | Psalms, Faith, God, Israel, Miracles, Tests and Trials
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz King David started life as a shepherd but he came from a military family. I imagine his brothers coming home on leave, sitting at the dinner table, telling war stories to their red-headed little brother. Of course, David’s rise to the throne...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 22, 2022 | Covenant, Mikeitz, Hebrew Language, Redemption, Tests and Trials
It is time for a Bible quiz. QUESTION: Who began life as the son of slaves and rose to live in Pharoah’s house? ANSWER: Everyone knows that is Moses. QUESTION: Who tricked his twin and got his father’s blessing? ANSWER: Everyone knows that was Jacob. Who was known for...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 5, 2022 | Antisemitism, Psalms, Chosen Nation, Chanukah, God, Prayer, Tests and Trials
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Hanukkah is quickly approaching and I am reminded of a joke my father, of blessed memory, used to tell every year after lighting the candles. With the doughnuts and potato pancakes arranged on the table and waiting to be eaten, my dad would...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 14, 2022 | Psalms, God, Good and Evil, Justice, Tests and Trials
David’s journey to kingship was not easy. Obstacles stood in his way and evil men attacked him. But David had a perspective on this that leveraged these difficulties to help his devotion to God. This was expressed in Psalm 11: Hashem seeks out the righteous man but...
