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Category Archives: Mo’ed
Some Thoughts on Shemini Atzeret
It has been said that there are numerous ways of defining who or what Jews are. There are definitions based upon culture, religion, ethnicity, geological location and biblical history. One further definition is that Jews are people of the calendar … Continue reading
Weekly Thoughts Vayakhel-Pekudei – Shabbat HaChodesh
Tomorrow is Shabbat HaChodesh (“Sabbath [of the] month”), which is the Shabbat that precedes the month of Nisan during which Pesach (Passover) is celebrated (Exodus 12:1-20). Traditionally, Rosh Chodesh Nisan is the first month of the Jewish year according to the schedule … Continue reading
Thoughts on Shabbat for Chol Ha’moed Sukkot
The Shabbat during Chol Ha’moed Sukkot has a special Torah reading, Exodus 33:12 – 34:26. In it we read of Moshe’s encounter with Hashem after the incident with the molten calf. Hashem affirms that He will continue to go with … Continue reading
Thoughts on Vayelech and Shabbat Shuvah
We are in the midst of the Days of Awe, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when introspection is the order of the day and each of us is attempting to ensure that all is right between ourselves and Hashem … Continue reading
Rosh Hashana – 5780
In the list of the mo’adim (festivals) that Hashem told Moshe to proclaim to Bnei Yisrael in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23, “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a … Continue reading
Shabbat during Sukkot
There is an interesting commentary on חֻקַּת עוֹלָם, “an everlasting law” in the last verse of the Torah reading for Yom Kippur morning (Leviticus 16:1-34). Even when there is no Temple, if we repent on Yom Kippur, the day itself … Continue reading
Thoughts on Vayelech
This week’s Torah portion is Vayelech, Deuteronomy 31:1-30.[i] For the encouragement of many of us, this portion begins, וַיֵּלֶךְ, מֹשֶׁה; וַיְדַבֵּר, Moshe walked and talked with Bnei-Yisrael. Why is this encouragement? Quite simply because the next verse states that Moshe was … Continue reading
