Debbie Jaffe
Debbie (she/her) has been the B’nei Mitzvah tutor at Society Hill Synagogue since 2017, but she has been teaching kids how to read Torah since she was 15 years old. She has mentored hundreds of students for their B’nei Mitzvah services in Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles since 2000. Debbie received her B.A. from […]
Shabbat of… the Cow?
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar I’m writing to share with you the teaching I delivered this past Shabbat, a Shabbat which called upon us to begin spiritually opening ourselves in preparation for the Pesah (Passover) holiday: There are nine special Shabbatot, special Sabbaths, sprinkled throughout the Jewish year that receive their own name because of special […]
A Five-Year-Old’s Friend, Ukraine, and Our Extra Shabbat Souls
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar Dear friends, I’ve been sitting for a while with the events of the last week — the confirmation of the deaths of hostages: the Bibas children, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, ages four years and nine months when kidnapped; and their mother, Shiri; alongside peace activist Oded Lifshitz — may their memories […]
The Power of Community in Challenging Moments
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar I had hoped this week to simply share with you the D’var Torah I delivered this past Friday night to welcome our 61 new member households who joined over the past year, on the experience of entering a new community, and on the importance, in Jewish tradition, of welcoming and togetherness. […]
How Prayer May Bring Change – Not How You Might Think
by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar I’m writing to share the remarks I delivered at this past week’s Friday night Shabbat service, which you are always encouraged to attend — a peaceful conclusion to the week and initiation of Shabbat, celebrated through song, community, reflection, and prayer, and then, of course, food: I’ve shared a […]