Forming a Relationship to Loss
By Rabbi Nathan Kamesar This past shabbat, we studied parashat chukat, a momentous Torah portion featuring the death of Miriam, prophetess and Moses’ sister; the Israelites lashing out at Moses because of their hunger and thirst, and Moses, in turn, striking a rock rather than ordering it to bring forth water, as God had commanded, leading to […]
Being Gentle with Our Inner Rebels
By Rabbi Nathan Kamesar This past Shabbat we studied Parashat Korach, the Torah portion known as Korach, the eponymous Israelite who features prominently in the parshah’s opening narrative. Korach is notorious in Jewish tradition, standing in for every impertinent demagogue to follow. The parshah begins with Korach “betaking himself… to rise up against Moses, together with […]
Summing Up the Torah of Our B’nei Mitzvah
By Rabbi Nathan Kamesar Each of the past two weeks we held meaningful, dynamic Bar Mitzvah services, first, two weeks ago on May 29, led by Jared Eizen, and then, last week on June 4, led by Ezra Goldenberg. Jared’s parashah was called Beha’alotekha, from the Book of Devarim (Numbers). Beha’alotkha literally means, “in your raising up,” referring to the […]