Thank you for participating in our community Seder on Tuesday. Our special guests - refugee families living in Richmond - felt welcomed by our congregation. We learned from the refugees and Reestablish Richmond that the most pressing need is jobs. There are many educated and experienced refugees: computer techs, procurement experts, human resource experts, journalists, engineers, stonecutters, bricklayers, builders,...Read more...
30 Days of Liberation Day 29 - For all the drama and fireworks of the Exodus story, it sure seems like the Children of Israel end up right back where they started. When they migrate to Egypt, they are refugees, and when they leave Egypt, they are r30 Days of Liberation Day 29 - For all the drama and fireworks of the Exodus story, it sure seems like the Children of Israel end up right back where they started. When they migrate to Egypt, they are...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdomThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdomThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdomThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should learn about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the 30 days prior to Passover, I...Read more...
Temple Beth-El has been highlighted by the Associated Press! For some, Passover Seder will address global refugee crisis Read the full article here.Temple Beth-El has been highlighted by the Associated Press! For some, Passover Seder will address global refugee crisis Read the full article here.
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief messagedrawn from the wisdom PassThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief message, drawn from the wisdom PasThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief message, drawn from the wisdom PasThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief message, drawn from the wisdom PasThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief message, drawn from the wisdom PasThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief message, drawn from the wisdom PasThe Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about theholiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will...Read more...
The practice of giving wheat and/or flour to the poor beginning a month before Passover was so prevalent in some Jewish communities that people in need became hooked on it. But rather than calling for an end to the practice - support an addiction to welfare?! - Jewish law doubles down, teaching that the dependency exacerbates both the need for aid and the community's responsibility. It is a sin to avert one's eyes from the suffering of the...Read more...
Alongside the tradition of reviewing Passover's laws 30 days before the festival is the custom of buying wheat or flour for the poor so that they too can enjoy the holiday. Having the time and resources that enable extra study is privilege, and, if Passover teaches nothing else, it's that privilege demands responsibility for those less fortunate.
Tradition teaches that one should begin reviewing the laws of Passover 30 days before the holiday. The thing most likely to lead us astray is ignorance. True of ritual observance, and also of life. What we don't know can hurt us, and can cause us to hurt others. Let us be aware of our unawareness and earnest in our striving to reveal the concealed.
Earlier this month, I was privileged to attend a three-day conference convened by T’ruah, an organization of rabbis fighting for human rights in the U.S. and beyond. I joined with fellow rabbis from all over the country and across the denominational spectrum for learning, prayer, fellowship and training in Jewish social activism.
T’ruah organized the conference in the wake of the presidential election. The incoming...Read more...
Many of you have no doubt heard of the despicable act of vandalism that occurred at a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis. In troubling times like these, it's encouraging to know that the Jewish community has many allies. Indeed, in the wake of the St. Louis incident, the Muslim community raised over $40,000 in under 48 hours (see press release below). I am grateful for their steadfast friendship and support, and I'm...Read more...
The Islamic Center of Virginia, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy invite the community to a gathering of unity and solidarity on Sunday, February 5 at 3:30pm at the Islamic Center of Virginia (1241 Buford Road, Richmond).
The program will feature speakers, testimonies, and calls to action, including the participation of Hazzan Marian. Note that...Read more...
Today, Adira is joining thousands of others in Washington, DC - including Hazzan Marian and our Director of Youth Learning, Ramona Brand, along with many other Temple Beth-El congregants - for the Women’s March on Washington. For those who don’t know much about the event, it is a grassroots march for human rights, dignity, and justice for all. It was organized in the wake of a...Read more...
Since the U.S. election, I’ve been reflecting about how Jewish values might lead us, regardless of our political leanings, to relate to the incoming Trump administration.
I’ve concluded that the Jewish tradition would insist we judge our leaders based on the extent to which they advance an agenda that reflects the equal and infinite worth of all human beings, since each of us has been created in the divine image.
I wanted to use this inaugural blog post to let you know about a unique opportunity we are offering at Temple Beth-El on Saturday, December 3:
We will be hosting the legendary Kirtan Rabbi (http://kirtanrabbi.com/) for an extraordinary evening of mystical chanting. The Kirtan Rabbi fuses Jewish tradition and Eastern practice to take people of all backgrounds and faiths on a powerful spiritual journey.
Read more... 
