Parsha Chayei Sara – 5777
Aliya-by-Aliya Parashat Chayei Sara 5760 “The parsha begins by telling us that Sara died in Kiryat Arba, which is Hevron. But first it tells us that she lived a full, long life of 127 years. With the last theme of…
Parsha Vayera – 5777
Aliya-by-Aliya Parshat Vayeira 5762 ““It was unnaturally hot; that was G-d’s doing, to spare Avraham the bother of visitors. However, Avraham is distressed by the absence of visitors, so G-d sends three angels to him in the guise of wayfarers.…
Parsha Lech Lecha – 5777
Aliya-by-Aliya Parashat Lech Lecha ““Leave your land, birthplace, father’s house.” Ramban explains that each “point of departure” was progressively more difficult for Avraham. Leaving one’s land is difficult, even more so if he was born there. Leaving one’s family is…
Parsha Noach – 5777
Aliya-by-Aliya Parashat Noach “The exile of Adam and Chava from Gan Eden, Kayin and Hevel, the continuous degeneration (PI) through successive generations until G-d’s “regret” for having created the world and His “decision” to destroy it.” Torah Sparks: Noach “The…
Parsha Bereishit – 5777
Aliya-by-Aliya Parashat B’reishit “One traditional view holds that the first day of Tishrei of year number 1 was Day Six of Creation, the day that mammals, including humans, were created. The day that Adam and Chava were placed in Gan…
Inter-Faith Relations: Survey of World Religions (Part 3)
Baha’i The Bah’ai Faith grew out of Shi’ite Islam and the belief in a 12th Imam – a successor of Mohammed – who would renew religion and guide the faithful. In 1844 Mirza Ali Mohammed proclaimed an imminent appearance “of…
Inter-Faith Relations: Survey of World Religions (Part 2)
Islam Islam’s origins can be traced back to about 600 CE in the central Arabian Desert. The religion began with the teachings of Mohammed who was considered by his followers to be the last messenger of Allah. Islam spread rapidly…
Inter-Faith Relations: Survey of World Religions (Part 1)
If one is to truly understand where one stand in the world regarding religion it is important to have at least some working knowledge of the various other religions of the world. It is also important to understand the basic…
Jewish Literacy – Biblical Era: Creation (Part 5)
“…and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:15). These lights shall also function to provide light to the earth. Rashi explains that the earth…
Pesach (5776 – 2016)
Pesach (Passover) is a Biblical festival that begins on 15 Nisan (in March or April). Pesach is a seven-day holiday that celebrates the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt and our freedom from oppression in modern days. The holiday is…