In the midst of so much rich narrative in this week’s parasha, (the death of Sarah, the generosity of Rivka, the love discovered between Rivka and Yitzchak and the death of Avraham), we find the following pasuk…Genesis 24:63וַיֵּצֵ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק לָשׂ֥וּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִפְנ֣וֹת עָ֑רֶב וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא...

Despite the tragic end to the Sodom and Gomorrah story (spoiler: all the people die), it is one of my all time favourite biblical stories, and found within Vayeira, a Torah portion that has so many incredible stories. So what is sit that makes this powerful and interesting to Yacov (you might be asking yourself)? Upon hearing the plan to destroy these cities and their...

Each month, our shinshinit Amit Mizrachi will share an Israeli song to inspire, engage and entertain us as we get ready to usher in Shabbat. November 2022The song "Haboker Yaaleh" by the very talented Israeli musician Ishay Ribo is optimistic and calming, "the morning will come and the sun will rise...". I chose this song for our first Shirat HaHodesh because spreading...

It was exactly 25 years ago this Shabbat that I celebrated my Bar Mitzvah. The protagonist of the Torah reading, Abram (later Abraham), is sent out on a journey by God to a place and into a future he does not know at the time of departure. So to, as I reflect on my own life and the changes in the world since 1997, have I – and all of us – been on our life journeys not knowing exactly where we...

The post-diluvian genealogy of Noah and his sons after the flood is a dry listing of begats, save for a digression about Nimrod the son of Cush.“Cush also begot Nimrod, who was the first man of might on earth. He was a mighty hunter by the grace of the Lord; hence the saying ‘Like Nimrod a might hunter by the grace of the Lord.’The mainstays of his kingdom were Babylon, Erekh, Accad...

Perusing through the Bible as a kid, I was excited to find my family surname in English. It was in parashat Vayishlaḥ, which outlined the genealogy of Esau. Ezer is listed as one of the sons of Seir the Horite, the Horites being the original non-semitic settlers of Seir / Edom prior to the arrival of Esau’s clans (Genesis 36:20 ff). As an adult, however, I discovered that in Hebrew the name...

On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, I spoke about Teshuvah, Belovedness, and Pleasure. The night before, after ẖag dinner, my dear colleague Yacov gave me the slightest nudge about the language I use, reminding me to ensure that it should be clear to the people in the room what I mean. For instance, in my Jewish mindfulness circles, words like “belovedness” and “embodiment” are...

Our members-in-good-standing will fall into one of two categories below:Scenario 1: I have tickets alreadyFor members who have received their tickets, simply show them at the entry to our security guard to gain access to the shul. Scenario 2: I am a member-in-good-standing but I did not receive my tickets!For those who renewed/joined prior to September...

When the new ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom, Tzipi Hotovely, presented her credentials to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 2021, she was accompanied by her husband Or Alon. While it was out of protocol, Or asked the Queen:  "What is one piece of life advice you can give us in light of your rich experience?"Or later shared, ''She thought about it, pondered and then...

The Hebrew language and Jewish tradition have several verbs related to transgression. The most well known is the verb חָטָא, hattah, to sin.  The noun is חֵט ẖet, is also the word for “arrow”. Archery is the imagery for missing the mark in whatever we set out to achieve. Like an arrow that misses the bull’s eye, there is nothing wrong with the arrow...

Parashat Shoftim begins with the command to set up a proper judicial system in Israel: “You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that the Lord your God is giving you”. (Deuteronomy 16:18) Instead of the usual word for cities or settlements, the Torah uses a different term, Sh’arekha, literally meaning “your gates”. Although the...

Dear Friends, In the '90s, I worked for Hillel in Miami, Florida. At the time the mission of the organization was to maximize the number of Jews doing Jewish with other Jews. Since I left the organization, more than 20 years ago, it underwent a lot of change. Earlier this week, Hillel launched its latest rebranding, and a new tagline of only four words: “All Kinds of Jewish.”...

Nashuvah! | Return Again!We're thrilled to once again offer your favourite High Holy Day services for you and your family to enjoy, onsite or from the comfort of your own home! Members will have access to our virtual livestream hub to access the Sanctuary Services and the Outdoor Short & Sweet Services. This page will be updated with direct links to access the services as we move closer to...

The month of Elul begins in just over a week. Below is an invitation to begin thinking, over this time, about how we might each choose to engage with the opportunities of Elul.Elul is the month that leads up to Rosh Hashanah, Aseret Yimei Teshuvah—10 days of Return—and Yom Kippur. During the month of Elul we are encouraged to begin to engage in H̱eshbon Hanefesh, Spiritual Accounting, a...

Tomorrow, Friday, is a special day on the Jewish calendar. It is Tu B’Av or the 15th of the month of Av. We know of Tisha B’Av, the day on which the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. But what is Tu B’Av?According to tradition, Tu B’Av is the day on which the sin of the spies (their lack of belief in God and themselves to enter the Land of Israel when the people first...