We had a wonderful and meaningful Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur — and now Sukkot is just about here in the Galilee. Sukkot is called Zman Simchateinu (Time of our Joy) and it is the happiest time of the Jewish year as we celebrate with our families in our Sukkah. One of the reasons for […]
Feasting Your Way to Holiness
This year the Hebrew month of Tishrei coincides with most of the month of September. The festivals of Rosh HaShanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkoth (Tabernacles) and its intermediate days, and Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret all fall within a few weeks! That means, in addition to all the praying we will […]
Knowing What Abraham Knew About the 10 Commandments
Contrary to popular opinion, the first of the Ten Commandments is NOT “to believe in God.” In the Mishna Torah, Maimonides teaches that the first commandment articulated as “I am the Lord your God…” is be understood as an obligation “to KNOW there is a first Being.” To confuse matters further, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal) […]
Kabbalah – What does the word really mean?
Most people would translate “Kabbalah” as “Jewish Mysticism.” But that definition fuels many misconceptions about Torah. [NOTE: I do not encourage anyone reading this to study “Kabbalah” as it is popularly presented in the English-speaking world. Many of those presenting it are charlatans distorting authentic Torah for their own gain. This article is primarily focused […]
Seek Me and Live!
When King Solomon died, the ten northern tribes refused to submit to his son, Rehoboam, and they revolted. Jeroboam, a banished leader of Solomon’s court, led the rebellion and when Rehoboam refused to work out the grievances of the northern tribes, those tribes declared their independence and proclaimed Jeroboam King of a newly formed Kingdom […]
The Moon and the Menorah
The 17th day of Tammuz (July 24, 2016) is a sun-up to sun-down fast day in the Jewish Calendar. It is the day on which five major tragedies happened in our history. The Roman siege of Jerusalem began on this day which ultimately led to the destruction of the second temple in the year 70 […]
“Where creativity oozes and courage reigns”
Rabbi Chanina said, “I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and the most from my students” (Ta’anit 7a). I always try to teach my students to love the Land of Israel with all their heart and soul. Here are the wonderful words of one of my treasured students who teaches this […]
‘This is Your Life’ and Holocaust Memorial Day
That’s Ralph Edwards on the left hosting a 1961 live episode of the most popular television show at the time, “This is Your Life.” What do these people have to do with Galilee Green? Holocaust memorial day in Israel is called Yom HaShoah veHaGevurah (Holocaust and Heroism Day) In addition to commemorating the death of […]
Fighting Our Inner Amalek
Pharoah’s army is in a deadly pursuit of the Jewish people as they arrive at the sea. Moshe tells the people, “Don’t be afraid… stand by and watch … God will do battle for you and you will be still.” (Exodus 14: 13-14) God performs the miracle at the sea: the Egyptian army is drowned […]
Jewish Slaves?
Why Did the Children of Israel have to Suffer as Slaves in Egypt? This week we begin the book of Shmot (Exodus) It begins with the enslavement of the Jews in Egypt and their ultimate redemption through the 10 plagues and the Exodus from Egypt under Moshe’s leadership. Since God had promised Abraham that his […]