Commentary - Blog
Teaching Responsibility – Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Bar and Bat Mitzvah is a golden opportunity for Teaching Responsibility as well as enhancing a child's development. As children approach adulthood, the Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation process becomes a real world training ground. Children learn about accountability, time management, and personal growth. For American Jewish families ceremonies in Israel carry even more significance....
Read MoreExpectations of Bar-t Mitzvah Tutoring
Expectations of Bar-t Mitzvah tutoring: preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a major life event, held in Israel, it becomes even more meaningful. Clarity about expectations from the get go are critical. A well planned tutoring strategy ensures your child feels confident, prepared, and excited. For North American modern families, understanding the tutoring...
Read MoreThe Scrolls Of Independence, healing Israeli alienation
The false dichotomy It is customary to read the Scroll Of Independence on Yom Haatzmaut, as it reminds us of our nation’s sacred moral as well as legal principles. However, we, the Jewish people, have another more ancient founding scroll, the Torah Scroll. This is partly why, early on, Israeli society has empowered the extreme...
Read MoreTips for Learning Hebrew for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a momentous time in a young person's life. One of the most important aspects of this spiritual journey is learning Hebrew, the sacred language of the Torah. Whether your child is fluent or just starting out, there are proven techniques to make this process smoother, more enjoyable,...
Read MoreHow to Write a D’var Torah (Speech) with Your Child
The D’var Torah is more than just a speech—it's a moment for your child to express their voice, reflect on sacred texts, and share a meaningful message with the community during their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. In this guide, we’ll show you how to support your child in crafting a D’var Torah that’s authentic, insightful,...
Read MoreHow to Support Your Child’s Torah Portion Study?
How to Support Your Child’s Torah Portion Study? At the heart of your child’s Bar/t Mitzvah journey is the Torah portion study—a sacred task that connects your child with generations of Jewish learning and tradition. As a parent or guardian, you play a vital role in supporting your child’s success and enjoyment throughout this process. ...
Read MoreThe Spiritual Imperative of a Fresh Start and Passover
Last month, we celebrated Purim, whose essence is encapsulated in the verse from the Book of Esther: "The enemies of the Jews had hoped to dominate them, but it all turned around, נהפוך הוא, and the Jews ended up dominating their enemies" (Esther 9:1). Indeed, Purim teaches us that things often turn out to be...
Read MorePsychedelics or Zohar?
Psychedelics or Zohar? The former has informed my spiritual journey way back when. In the 90s, way before my Rabbinic ordination, I had the unusual privilege of joining my Rabbi and spiritual teacher along with his colleague in smoking the ganja (weed) before a Kabalat Shabbat event. Undoubtedly, with the mind altering substance's help, this...
Read MoreThe Shahid’s Sanctuary – a critique of Zoosman’s “The Cost of Revenge… Israel’s Response to Hamas”
Dear Cantor Zoosman I would like to introduce the term "The Shahid's Sanctuary" for consideration. Thank you for your thoughtful and provocative piece “The Cost of Revenge, A Cantor’s Critique of Israel’s Response to Hamas”. Your activism toward the elimination of capital punishment is admirable. I have been following your social media posts on the...
Read MoreA Hawk, a Dove, and Hamas True Motivation
My friend and colleague, Rabbi Jan Salzman, said shortly after October 7th 2023 that there are both a Hawk and Dove residing within her head and heart in equal measure. I believe many of us can relate. We are living through a challenging time in which previously set assumptions about...
Read MoreHandling Tragedy During the Month of Adar
In Tractate Ta’anit, it is stated: "Just as during the month of Av we decrease in joy, so too, during the month of Adar we increase in joy." Indeed, the sages instruct us to encourage and amplify joy not only on the days of Purim itself but throughout the entire month of Adar. Just recently,...
Read MoreUnity Above All, The Israeli Challenge
One of the greatest challenges in Israel these days, besides the grief for the many casualties, and the anguish over the fate of the hostages, is the fragility of our unity. This fragility began before October 7th, as we all remember.In Parashat Yitro, we read the words of Moses' father-in-law to Moses (Exodus 18:20-21):"And you...
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