Shabbat Eykev Do as you would be done by
August 22, 2024 by Jeremy Rosen
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The weekly reading of Eykev follows the pattern of the previous three weeks. Read more
Shabbat Vayeytzey: Initiative
November 23, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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Shabbat Toldot: Esau or Ishmael
November 16, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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Last week, we read about how Isaac and Ishmael came together to bury their father. And in fact, they lived together at the same place, Be’er Lechai Roi. Their coming together seems to have been complete. Read more
Unimaginable pain
November 10, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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The unimaginable pain on seeing the evidence of children tortured, limbs cut off and burnt to death, screams for an explanation. Why did God let this happen? Read more
Once a Jew, always a Jew?
October 16, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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Yom Kippur thoughts
September 18, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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Rabbi Raymond Apple shares his thoughts. Read more
Teshuvah is for everyone
September 11, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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No moment in Jewish history was as breathtaking as the revelation at Sinai. Read more
Shabbat Ki Tavo: The Land of Israel
August 31, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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“When you enter the land that your God is giving you as a heritage, and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take the first fruit of the soil, which you harvest from the land that your God giving you, and put them in a basket and go to the place that God chooses and to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, “I acknowledge this day before your God that I have entered the land that swore to our fathers to assign us.” ( Deuteronomy 26:1-2). Read more
What is one to make of Albert Einstein’s statement that “The Jewish God is simply a negation of superstition”?
July 31, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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What is the meaning of life?
July 3, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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Shabbat Behar & Behukotai – The Good the Bad and the Ugly
May 11, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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The book of the Torah called Vayikra or Leviticus, is also called the Book of Purity. Read more
Shabbat Tazria & Metzorah: Healthy in body and mind
April 20, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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The chapters of the Torah that we are reading now are concerned with health and what happens when our bodies do not function effectively or normally. Read more
Q. Why do (Orthodox) synagogues not allow the use of organ music?
April 17, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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Shabbat Vayakhel Pekudei: Repetition is Good
March 16, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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It is an interesting phenomenon that the major events of the Torah that play a crucial role in the life of the people from a philosophical point of view are repeated in slightly different ways. Read more
Why?
February 17, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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Innocent worshippers were shot outside a synagogue. Read more
Shabbat BeShalach: Women at Sea
February 3, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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Rashi, commenting on this week’s amazing events at the Red Sea, quotes the Midrash ( Mechilta 15:22) that at the Red Sea, God was seen by the humblest maidservant in a more powerful way than even the greatest of the prophets. Read more
Does Judaism have any list of banned books?
February 1, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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Can I reconvert to Judaism?
January 27, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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Shabbat Shemot: Who is God?
January 12, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
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Throughout the Torah, God has been referred to anthropomorphically. Read more
Shabbat Vayeytzey: Dreams and Fears
December 1, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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Jacob flees his parents’ home because he fears that Esau will kill him for taking the blessing from Isaac. Read more
Was the fruit of the Tree of Life from which Adam and Eve ate really an apple?
October 19, 2022 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
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On the other hand
October 16, 2022 by Michael Kuttner
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Without a doubt, one of the most evocative highlights of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is the massed blessing of the Kohanim at the Kotel. Read more
Shabbat Ki Tavo: Rewards and punishment
September 15, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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The Torah this week contains blessings and warnings. Read more
Shabbat Devarim: Optimism despite it all
August 4, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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The Book of Devarim, the last book of the Torah, is dominated by the personality of Moses even more than the previous three books. Read more
Shabbat Shelach Lecha: Grasshoppers
June 23, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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Moses was instructed by God to send men to go on a tour of the Land of Canaan. Read more
Shabbat Kedoshim: About sex
May 5, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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The part of the Torah we read this week, Kedoshim, contains more moral and ethical laws than any other part of the Torah, that you will be familiar with. Read more
Shabbat Acharei Mot: Arrogance
April 28, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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Previously in Leviticus Chapter 9, the two sons of Aaron, Nadav, and Avihu had watched and participated in the dedication of the priests and the tabernacle. Read more
Failed priests and prophets
April 8, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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There seems to me to be a permanent state of conflict in all religions between religious authority and individual spirituality or mysticism. Read more
Shabbat Tazria: Rosh Hodesh Nisan – Purity
March 31, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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Having dealt with the sacrificial system and its ceremonials, the Torah now turns to human beings and how they should take steps to care for their physical as well as spiritual lives. Read more
Shabbat Pikudei: The Messiah
March 3, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
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The term Mashiach is usually associated with the apocalyptical idea of a Messiah who will change the world to make it a more peaceful and honest place. Read more