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Sin at the Door - September 15, 2018
09/15/2018 08:18:39 PM
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Murder is a terrible, terrible crime which has always been a part of the human condition. According to the Bible, it was just the 2nd generation of mankind when there was the first murder – the fratricide by Cain of Abel.
Cain is the oldest son of Adam and Eve. The name Cain means, “acquired” which is reflected in Genesis 4:1 when Eve says, “I have gained a male child with the help of the Lord.” Cain’s younger brother,...Read more...
Unforgivable Sins - September 8, 2018
09/08/2018 10:16:39 PM
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Orthodox Jews will read on Yom Kippur morning: “For on this day atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins; you shall be clean before the Lord.” (Leviticus 16:30)
The High Holidays start next week and, as a reminder, Yom Kippur is a time when we pray for forgiveness for our sins. The Torah portion for Yom Kippur for Orthodox Jews is Leviticus 16 where we learn how the shrine is cleansed. And we also learn...Read more...
Dirty Money - September 1, 2018
09/02/2018 04:50:52 PM
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Last week we looked at a passage in the Torah that identifies cult prostitutes. Prostitution was an acknowledged and accepted fact of biblical life, but we also saw that money earned by a prostitute while plying their trade cannot be used to fulfill a vow to God, because God would find that to be abhorrent.
Rabbi Jaech led us in a discussion of modern-day questions about money coming to a synagogue from, what some might call,...Read more...
Salacious Stories - August 25, 2018
08/26/2018 09:07:57 AM
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Rabbi Jennifer Jaech has returned from her summer hiatus of professional development and, perhaps inspired by the news cycles of one shocking development after another, zeroed in on a passage in this week’s Torah portion from Deuteronomy 23:
No Israelite woman shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any Israelite man be a cult prostitute. You shall not bring the fee of a whore or the pay of a dog into the...Read more...
The devil made me do it
07/01/2018 12:40:55 PM
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According to Numbers 22, the prophet Balaam was called upon by the Moabite people to curse the Israelites. Balaam asked God if that was ok, but God said, “You must not curse that people, for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12)
Balaam is offered riches to ask again, and God tells Balaam to journey toward the Israelite enemy in Moab. However, after telling Balaam to make the journey, God sends an Adversary to block Balaam’s way....Read more...
Jephthah
06/23/2018 12:44:12 PM
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Part of today’s Torah portion is from Numbers 21 and it contains a passage where the Israelites, who were still wandering in the wilderness, ask for permission to pass through the land of the Amorites, but permission was not granted. A battled ensued and the Israelites won, “So Israel occupied the land of the Amorites.” (Numbers 21:31)
The Haftarah for this week comes from the Book of Judges and it offers a retelling of how the...Read more...
a sterling reputation
06/16/2018 12:38:54 PM
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Our session today started with a brief civics lessons: Jeff Sessions, Attorney General of the United States, cited a passage from Romans 13 of the Christian Bible to address the separation of parents from their children at the border between America and Mexico. Romans 13 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been...Read more...
caleb the spy
06/09/2018 12:50:42 PM
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The Torah portion for this week is from the Book of Numbers. In the portion, the Israelites are at the end of the wandering and are ready to go into Canaan to claim the land as their own. 12 spies are sent ahead to scout the land and 10 of the spies come back saying that, although the land “does indeed flow with milk and honey,” the land is inhabited by giants who cannot be defeated. In fact, a cluster of grapes was cut down and brought...Read more...
Narizrite vows
06/03/2018 12:51:30 PM
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Last week we looked at the nazirite vow in the Torah. As a reminder, we learned that when a person takes a nazirite vow they are becoming holy to God, in a similar fashion that a priest is holy to God. However, the restrictions on a nazirite are even more strict than on a priest: Nazirites must abstain from all grape products, they must not cut their hair, and they must not come close to a dead person. Also, at the end of the term of being a...Read more...
who were the Nazirites?
05/27/2018 01:07:26 PM
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In Numbers 6 we learn what it means to take the vow to become a nazirite. Anyone, man or woman, can utter the vow to become a nazirite (but in this blog I will use male pronouns simply because it is easier for me). A nazirite must not eat or drink anything that comes from grapes: wine, raisins, etc. A nazirite must never cut the hair on his head. And a nazirite must never be close to a dead person, including close relatives. If a nazirite...Read more...
Shavuot
05/19/2018 01:10:05 PM
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This year the holiday of Shavuot begins at sundown on May 19. The holiday is less familiar to American Reform Jews, but it was an important holiday in Biblical times. The holiday has its root in the Torah, where it is referred to as the Festival of Weeks, the Festival of Reaping, and the Day of First Fruits.
Biblical Israelites lived in an agrarian society and Shavuot was celebrated at the end of the grain harvest. According to...Read more...
The AmidaH
05/16/2018 10:21:21 AM
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Most Reform Jews are more familiar with the Shabbat Amidah, which is an...Read more...
Sun, December 22 2024
21 Kislev 5785
Temple israel Happenings
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Sunday ,
DecDecember 29 , 2024Film Premier: "MEMORIES ON THE MOUNT"
Sunday, Dec 29th 2:00pm to 3:00pm
"Memories on the Mount" is a 30 minute film consisting of interviews with several long-term members. Their stories capture the significance of Temple Israel, not only as our spiritual home, but as a vital center for charitable activities, social action, and, most importantly, community-building in Northern Westchester and beyond. -
Sunday ,
DecDecember 29 , 2024Fifteen Days of Light - Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebration
Sunday, Dec 29th 5:00pm to 6:00pm
This will take place at the gazebo in downtown Peekskill, as we light both the Hanukkah menorah and the Kwanzaa kinera. Amy Hersh will lead the music. -
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 12 , 2025Brotherhood Breakfast with Acting Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins
Sunday, Jan 12th 10:00am to 11:30am
Acting Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins has been Deputy County Executive for 7 years but will be elevated to the top job when George Latimer resigns on January 2 to become a new Member of Congress. Our Sunday Breakfast will be one of Ken Jenkins' first public events upon assuming leadership of county government. Ken will be the first African American to head-up the County. -
Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 14 , 2025Current Events
Tuesday, Jan 14th 10:30am to 12:00pm
On the second Tuesday of each month, from 10:30 -12:00, join us at the Temple for our lively discussion around issues of local, national and international news events. We cover everything from breaking news to issues around health and well being and more! If you can't come in person, contact Shari at sbaum@wjcs.com to receive a link to join us virtually.
Events
Friday Night
: 7:00pm |
Shabbat Day
: 9:30am |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Dec 29 |
Dec 29 |
Jan 3 |
Jan 8 |
Jan 12 |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat Mikeitz
Shabbat, Dec 28 |
Erev Hanukkah
Wednesday, Dec 25 |