The parasha this week has Joseph, the vizier of Egypt and newly-self-revealed brother of those who sought to kill him many years ago, sending his brothers back to Canaan to get their father, Jacob.  He is not angry with them but sends them on their way by saying, וַיְשַׁלַּ֜ח אֶת־אֶחָ֝יו וַיֵּלֵ֞כוּ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֭ם אַֽל־תִּרְגְּז֝וּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ:…

The latest heartbreaking tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT has given rise to the question that keeps coming back after every kind of tragedy, sickness, act of depravity.  It is a question that no one has answered despite their best efforts.  That question is, of course, ‘Why did God allow this…

The Torah portion for this week is Vayeytze and it describes the famous incident of Jacob’s dream with the ladder ascending to heaven with angels coming up and down the ladder.  The set-up for the dream uses strange language, though, and it is instructive to see what it can teach us. The text says, “vayifgah…

Bereshit: In the Beginning One of the most puzzling passages that has given rise to much confusion occurs in the very beginning of the Torah.  It says, And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  Not difficult to understand, of course, but then, on the beginning of the fourth day we have…

Parashat Noach The portion about Noah and his famous Ark gives rise to some interesting questions.  For example, when God tells Noah that He is going to destroy the Earth with a flood, God says, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְנֹ֗חַ קֵ֤ץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָ֛רֶץ חָמָ֖ס מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהִנְנִ֥י מַשְׁחִיתָ֖ם אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ “The end of all flesh has…

Parashat Noach He Should Have Jumped out the Window The portion about Noah and his famous Ark gives rise to some interesting questions.  For example, when God tells Noah that He is going to destroy the Earth with a flood, God says, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְנֹ֗חַ קֵ֤ץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָ֛רֶץ חָמָ֖ס מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהִנְנִ֥י מַשְׁחִיתָ֖ם…

  By BARBARA HEIMLICH AARON Leslie Bonime Aaron           husband Samuel M. Heimlich            father Theresa  Stein Heimlich       mother Max Aaron                           father Luba Aaron                          mother Dr. Ernest M. Heimlich        brother Dr. Harold H. Aaron            brother Milton Stein                         uncle Solomon Neimark                uncle Reginia Stein Neimark         aunt Theresa Heimlich Friedman aunt Freda Bonime Halpern        …

Rabbi Stanway received this note in early December 2011   __________ Dear Rabbi Cy,   I was amazed at how Julia appeared so composed and confident during her cantorial experience in singing this past Friday and Saturday. With less than an hour’s preparation, Julia went to temple with the book of music I prepared for…

Sisterhood Events for 2012 January 27 – 29 – Women’s REC Weekend – Click here for a Brochure or Registration Forms February – Impromptu Ladies Night Out – Look for Information to come March 8 – Purim Potluck Dinner and Megilah Reading April – Impromptu Ladies Night Out – Look for Information to come May…

by Anna Vernick For me, Camp Harlam is the absolute most beautiful place in the whole world. I couldn’t have loved that place more. The friends I made at Camp Harlam are irreplaceable, and I will love them forever. If I didn’t meet them, my camp experience wouldn’t have been quite as great, even though…