Parashat Vayikra 2019 – The Power of Sacrifice
This week, we begin reading the book of Leviticus, or “Vayikra” in Hebrew. Leviticus is a very detailed training manual for priests at the ancient Jerusalem temple, and includes some of the most beautiful, and some of the most offensive laws in the Torah. We also get a blow-by-blow of each kind of animal sacrifice […]
Terumah 2019 – Board Installation Shabbat
BUILDING A SANCTUARY FROM THE INSIDE OUT PART I – Sacred Partnership We are here tonight to celebrate Shabbat, but also to install our new Board of Directors, to pray for their success, and to offer our support to them. It seems particularly fitting that our Torah Portion is Terumah, which describes the building of […]
BaShalach 2019 – MLK Jr. Day
…try to imagine the joy, the jubilation you would have felt if you had been slaves, then escaped with all your people, and then with an army hunting you down, a sea opened and you got across only to see those chasing you be covered by the waters. Just try and imagine that feeling of relief and release.
Now, try to remember the time in your life that is closest to getting out of a bad situation, escaping danger and attack, finally getting to the other side of a terrible situation?
Vayera 2019 – Be Among the Disciples of Aaron
Last year, when I spoke about this portion, I talked about the psychological drama going on in the battle between Pharoah and Moses, and the tensions between God and Moses.
There are three key moments in our portion that will remind us of all the drama going on.
Hanukkah Sermon 5779
I confess I never much liked Hanukkah. It seemed like a crappy substitute for Christmas trees and presents and Santa. I know my Hindu American friends felt the same way about Divali. It wasn’t until I spent Hanukkah in Jerusalem, with the smell of fresh sofganiyot everywhere, hanukkiot in every window, and the enormous flames of the […]
Parashat Vayikra – Shabbat Zachor 2019 after NZ shooting
March 18, 2019 by templesinai • Sermons •
What Purim almost was Tonight was going to be a festive Purim-leaning Shabbat, but after the events in New Zealand, it isn’t right. It is important to remember that Purim itself is a holiday about a narrow escape from a massacre, a genocide. Purim celebrates that rare moment when such tragedy is avoided, but it […]