I hope that you celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut with pride this week, as we marked 73 years since the birth of the State of Israel, a miracle in our days. I made sure to listened to Israeli music throughout the day, and especially enjoyed the latest Hartman podcast, including my friend Rabbi Joe Schwartz, on the way Israeli Continue Reading »
Now that we have emerged from Yom HaShoah, we are headed into Shabbat with anticipation of joy and the resumption of our routine. That includes studying the weekly Torah portion with the help of these musical clues. Enjoy figuring out why I chose these tracks: Blind Faith live Early Indigo Girls Beautiful cover of Continue Reading »
In these few remaining hours before Shabbat and Pesah, I hope that the sounds of the seder will uplift and inspire you. Cantor Zim’s extraordinary singalong Wednesday night was a huge hit. If you missed it, you can find it here. I’m including a few more musical tracks to get you in the mood for Continue Reading »
As we come closer to Pesah, we always begin reading Sefer Vayikra, the Book of Leviticus. This Biblical book is the hallmark of priestly detail, particularly ancient Israel’s sacrificial system. Despite our likely disconnect from the idea of animal sacrifice, it’s important to read the weekly Torah portion, so I hope these song selections get you searching Continue Reading »
I spent some time this week online with Hadar at their annual Rabbinic Yeshiva Intensive, and in addition to the great Torah I got to learn, they also shared a playlist of some of the new gems from the Rising Song Institute. Check out this catchy melody by Batya Levine. There’s a lot of Torah to be Continue Reading »
Four-legged farm animals are germane to both Torah readings this week, with a starring role for the Golden Calf in the weekly portion, Ki-Tissa, and the special Maftir reading of Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer. New footage of the Golden Calf fiasco has recently emerged. Click here for the clip. The subtitles could be bigger, but they’ll have to do. Continue Reading »
As we go from Purim into Shabbat this year, I don’t want us to forget to have fun with video clips of music. Wait, don’t we do that every week? We do indeed, but here’s something special to enhance your Purim joy. Click here for a Sesame Street (or Avenue Q?)-inspired message about reading the Continue Reading »
This is one of the more important Shabbatot of the Jewish year, as we mark Shabbat Zakhor. Every year, on the Shabbat before Purim, we remember actively what Amalek did to us on the way out of Egypt, and how they remain a prototype for baseless hatred of our People. Click here to listen to JoAnn Luquis Continue Reading »
This is a three-Torah Shabbat, one of the rare times that happens, because in addition to the weekly portion, Mishpatim, it’s also Rosh Hodesh Adar. And since it’s Rosh Hodesh Adar, it’s time for the first of four special readings leading up to Pesah: Maftir Shekalim. It’s a good time to remember that our religious institutions need our support Continue Reading »
The story the Torah tells about revelation is one of the great narratives in recorded human history. Filmmakers have repeatedly interpreted the power of the moment in scenes such as this. Though I prefer to refer to the laws of Exodus 20 as The Decalogue, because there are actually more than 10 commandments in those Continue Reading »
