Torah Musings
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Kol Nidre 5781 Contrary to what many people expect, when I tell them I grew up in Texas, I historically would not consider myself particularly outdoorsy. In fact, when most people hear about my Texas upbringing, I am met with a mix of surprise and disappointment. I don’t have an accent. I have somehow managed…
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(Lo Tirtzach/Thou Shalt Not Murder art by Rachel Stone) Rosh Hashanah, II Tishrei, 5781 Long, long ago, in the days before COVID, we used to do things like see movies in crowded theaters. A few years ago, I went with my family to see a movie. I don’t remember which one it was, but it…
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Rosh Hashanah, I Tishrei 5781 When I was growing up, my family had a VHS tape recording of the 1965 version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein made for TV Cinderella musical starring Leslie Ann Warren. My younger sister and I used to watch it over and over again, memorizing all the lyrics and staging our…
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September 18, 2020 / 29 Elul 5780 Dear friends, Shalom, shalom larachok v’lakarov amar Adonai. Shalom: shalom to those who are far off, shalom to those who are near, says Adonai. (Isaiah 57:19) These words of welcome, included at the beginning of the Rosh Hashanah evening service in the mahzor our community uses, feel particularly…
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22 Elul, 5780 / September 11, 2020 Rabbi Hayyim of Zans [19th cent.] told a parable: A man had been wandering about in a forest for several days, not knowing which was the right way out. Suddenly he saw a man approaching him. His heart was filled with joy. “Now I shall certainly find out…
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15 Elul, 5780/ September 4, 2020 During the month of Elul, Sephardi Jewish communities have the practice of waking early to recite selichot, penitential prayers, before the morning service. The Sephardi cycle of selichot opens with words of poetry: בֶּן אָדָם, מַה לְּךָ נִרְדָּם, קוּם קְרָא בְּתַחֲנוּנִים. שְׁפךְ שִׂיחָה, דְּרשׁ סְלִיחָה, מֵאֲדון הָאֲדונִים. Ben Adam,…
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8 Elul, 5780/August 28, 2020 Beginning with Rosh Chodesh Elul, and continuing through Hoshana Rabba (the 7th day of Sukkot), we include Psalm 27 in every morning service. As in many communities, our practice at KH is to sing aloud the following lines: “Achat Shaalti me-eit Adonai, otah avakesh Shivti b’veit Adonai kol y’mai chayai…
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Today is the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul. Traditionally, this is a month of introspection and reflection as we prepare ourselves for the Yamim Noraim – the Days of Awe, as the High Holy Days are often called in Hebrew. As we will not be able to gather in the way we…
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Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17 (Triennial: 11:26-12:28) Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11 – 55:5 Moses begins his address in this week’s parasha with what appears to be a clear choice: Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: (27) the blessing, if you shall heed the commandments of the LORD your God,…
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Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25 Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14 – 51:3 In the opening of this week’s parasha, Moses offers the following promise to the Israelites: “And if you do obey these rules and observe them carefully, the LORD your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant that He made on oath with your…
