Perhaps my favorite part of our Temple Emanu-El sanctuary (aside from the good people who gather there) are the doors to the Ark. From the congregational seats, you can see the shapes and colorful garb of the Torah scrolls protected by the doors' intricate metal adornments. Each door has six separate panels, with an image that represents one of the B'nei Yisrael's 12 tribes, each one's name scripted in Hebrew cursive… Asher…Nephtali…Benjamin. Some have said that the panels, strung together, resemble Jacob's ladder (from his dream in Genesis 28). This would make sense as your eye is carried to the top of the ark doors, to the hanging Ner Tamid, representing the eternal soul of the Jewish people, which is encased in an image of Jacob wrestling with the angel. This is how he gains the name "Israel", and from there we inherit his spiritual DNA. Each image on the sliding ark doors, contained inside its panel, is taken from this week's Torah portion, Vayechi, which … [Read more...]
Family Time
This week's Torah portion is Vayigash from the book of Genesis. It tells the story of the reunion of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. This Parshah is especially relevant as we take time at this point in the year to celebrate the importance of family, and the values that hold us together. The Parshah begins with the brothers, who had previously sold Joseph into slavery, coming to Egypt seeking food during a famine. They do not recognize Joseph, who is now a powerful official in Pharaoh's court, but Joseph recognizes them and tests their repentance by accusing them of espionage and imprisoning Simeon. Despite the rift between them, the love and bond of family ultimately bring Joseph and his brothers back together. This moment of reconciliation and forgiveness is a powerful reminder of the enduring power of family ties and the importance of seeking and granting forgiveness in our own relationships. In addition to forgiveness, the Parshah also teaches us about the value of commitment to … [Read more...]
The Correct Way to Light Your Menorah
One of the great Jewish debates is the proper way to light a menorah. Some insist you load the candles from right to left and light left to right. It seems simple enough. But is it my right, or is it from the other side of the menorah? And what happens if my shamash is all the way to one side? What do I do if I don't have any candles at all? What if I'm using wicks and oil? There's no one way to light a menorah. According to our sage Hillel, we add a light for each night and light the newest light first. Since Hebrew goes from right to left, it's only natural for the first night to be furthest to the right. That would be fine, except many Jews, especially Sephardic Jews, like our friends at Or v'Shalom, have customarily used oil for their Chanukah menorah. In that case, there's no way we can light each candle with the shamash. According to Sephardic custom, the shamash is lit last, and the newest light is lit first. Too often, we get wrapped up in being exact in our rituals … [Read more...]
A Menorah in the Window
While pre-Chanukah celebrations kicked off with a bang at last Friday night's Shabbat service, it is this Sunday night that we will kindle the candles for the first night of Chanukah. Growing up it never felt like a statement to have a menorah shining brightly from our front window - it's just what we did. However, today, I field lots of questions surrounding an uneasiness about publicly displaying our Jewish identity. With rising antisemitism today, to place our menorah in the window does feel like a statement. But just like we have a mezuzah outside our front door, placing a menorah in the window is a declaration that we are proud of our Jewish identity and that in the darkness of winter we want to bring more light to the world. When we place a menorah in the window this Chanukah, we make the following declarations: We are proud to be Jewish and will not live in fear. Despite threats against our communities and people throughout history, we know our purpose is to spread … [Read more...]
The Meaning of Chanukah Isn’t About the Oil
Yes, you read correctly. The meaning of Chanukah isn't found in the oil. The meaning of Chanukah is in what those lights stand for. Specifically, that a small band of determined Jews can thwart those who would persecute them. The miracle of Chanukah is that we are still here today. Our persecutors didn't stop when Judah Maccabee and the rest of the Hasmonean Jews pushed out the Assyrian Greeks from the Land of Israel in 2000+ years ago. We've survived and thrived despite the best efforts of Pharaohs, Caesars, Emperors, Sultans, Kings, Queens, Popes, Czars, and Fuhrers-the list goes on. When we celebrate Chanukah, we make a powerful statement that we are proud to be Jewish. That's why the Chanukah lights are meant to be seen in the window of any Jewish home. The light that shines from the Chanukah menorah is for the world to see the joy we feel for being Jewish. Join Rabbi Spike, Jessica, and me this Friday for an early congregational celebration of Chanukah. Join us for services at … [Read more...]
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