Parashat Noach encompasses two prominent stories; two stories that have always stayed with us in memory. The first, of course, is the...

We have always been a people with a religion and a long tradition of taking responsibility. Responsible for the world around us, for our...

Members of Temple Beth El of Utica strongly condemn the savage attacks carried out by extremist fanatics from the terrorist organization...

I am writing these lines as the melodies and words of the prayers of Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days) confront our conscience with the...

As you read this, the high holy days of 5784 are almost over. It was a very busy time, as it is every year. I would like to show my...

How many mitzvot are there? I am not referring to how many we fulfill or should fulfill, as some argue that there are mitzvot related to...

It is the first night in the sukkah, and what better way to celebrate than also observing Shabbat? The book of Vayikra (Leviticus) says:...

A Hasidic tale recounts that when the Baal Shem Tov sensed that a calamity was approaching for his people, he would retreat to a place in...

תִּקְע֣וּ בַחֹ֣דֶשׁ שׁוֹפָ֑ר בַּ֜כֶּ֗סֶה לְי֣וֹם חַגֵּֽנוּ Sound the shofar on the New Moon, on the appointed time for the day of our...

Lo Bashamaim hi. The Torah is not in the heavens. The Talmud illustrates this with a story we have shared before, the story of Taanuro...

"And when you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, you shall take...

Have you ever experienced loving in an irrational way? I mean those loves that burst into your life and take over your body, your soul,...

I still have the images in my mind of the beautiful celebration at Temple Beth El for my rabbinical ordination. Interestingly, what...

Once again, the Torah places us in a situation where it recommends, instructs, and guides us on the path of humility. It's challenging to...

Shalom, Come see our new Ark! It is a masterpiece created by craftsman Solomon Goldbas. After months of planning, designing and...

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God that I am...

Parashat Ekev is the third in the Book of Devarim, or Deuteronomy. Ekev features a term that is repeated several times, actually more...

The Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) approved the controversial "reasonability" bill last Monday with 64 votes in favor and 0 against....

We are beginning the 5th book of the Torah, the last one: Deuteronomy. Its first portion, Parashat Devarim. This portion gives us a...

The Torah portions of this week, because we read two portions together, Matot and Masei, bring us a moment of the people where it seems...