Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Naso / נָשֹׂא

Since there is no way I will have time to write more this week, I’ve decided to share Dr. Ackerman’s view on the parshah: “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,’ Take a census of the sons of Gershon, as well, according to their fathers’ household, according to their families.’” (Numbers 4:21) Parashat Naso contains the…

My Birthday Shavuot

Shavuot was always my favorite holiday. I was always thinking that it was because of my bad relationship with winter and my love of warmth that always arrives with this holiday. I also preferred dairy over meat all my life. And then I found another reason: my Hebrew birthday! I was born on the 7th of…

Biblical Paradigms of Conversion: Avot, Sinai and Rut. A Shiur for Shavuot

Originally posted on joe wolfson:
Shavuot is the festival of the Jewish people’s conversion. The gemara in Masechet Keritut (9a) derives from the Torah’s description of Mount Sinai the necessary steps that a potential candidate for conversion needs to take. Shavuot is also the festival on which we read Megillat Rut – Rut, also represents an ideal model…

Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Bamidbar/בְּמִדְבַּר

This week we count. א  וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי, בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד:  בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית, לְצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם–לֵאמֹר. 1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the…

Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Behar/Bechukotai – בהר/בחקותי

To me, this week’s parshah is speaking about holiness and sanctity no less than the ones talking about the priests’ behavior. It is one of the parashiot that truly shows that the Gd of Israel is the Gd of everything and everyone. By His hand, the world is governed towards justice. This justice starts with the…

Songs that I Love

Being at Limmud FSU reminded me again that Jews come in all colors, speak different languages, have diverse backgrounds and like a variety of things. Music is probably the one thing that brings us together regardless of what specific kind of music we love. At the conference, we heard the very talented singer from Israel, Ninet. We…

Limmud! What a Great Idea!

Limmud is a really neat idea!I have been going to Limmud in New York area for years, was involved with the Limmud NY chavruta project and Limmud FSU for quite some time now. I have just returned from yet another amazing weekend celebrating Jewish life in all its incarnations. The energy of the place filled with a…

Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Emor / פרשת אמור

These are such loaded Parshiot! So many things to discuss, it’s hard to pick. Books can be written in modern politically correct world about the lines devotes to who is allowed to come close to the “congregation of GD” Books can be also written on the question of a blemished sacrifice and why it is…

Coconut Cheesecake

My daughter’s birthday is tomorrow. And this daughter is, already, a better baker than me. Much better in fact. She bakes all the time. For the family, for her friends, for her colleagues. Every time something new. It’s hard to make a cake for her that would be good enough, even though, I know she’ll…

Poppy Seeds?

There are some foods that divide the population into two parts. The fiercest division that I found so far is related to two foods that I love, but many people cannot stand: cilantro and poppy seeds. I use both all the time. I put cilantro, practically, everywhere – in salads, meats, roasted vegetables, etc. Some people say it…

Sad Anniversaries in My Life Paving the Road for the Better.

Last year, on this day I wrote something: Pain, scream, blood, night – again and again in my family How many times, G-d? Loving eyes asking me silently “why this torture?” – again and again How many times, G-d? Sparkles of hope come and go – again and again How many times, G-d? Girls of…

Голда Меир. Уметь плакать с переполненным сердцем и смеяться…

Originally posted on "Multi-Focal" СТраницы Лины Городецкой:
“Нельзя зачеркивать прошлое оттого, что настоящее на него непохоже.”, – одна из крылатых фраз, сказанных Голдой Меир.  Более четырех тысяч лайков и трех тысяч перепостов собрал на ФБ этот короткий рассказ о  ней. Почти целый год люди возвращались к этому статусу и писали комментарии… Чем-то так зацепил он всех……