Vayakhel-Pekudei – Where Lies Our Strength of Survival?

Vayakhel-Pekudei – Where Lies Our Strength of Survival?

The two parshiot this week are contrasts in emphasis – do we work on the whole, or strengthen the component parts? One wonders which of the two is more significant – a strong individual input, or a major collective effort? The answer encompasses both: personal integrity coupled with a sense of community mission.

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Matzah Product

Ukranian Matzah

We would like to throw our support behind the Jewish community of Ukraine and encourage you to  buy a pound of Matzah (approximately 8 handmade round matzos) for your Pesach

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Tetzaveh – What’s in a Name

Tetzaveh – What’s in a Name

Moses’ name doesn’t appear in this week’s Parsha even though he is its central figure. A name doesn’t express the essence of a person. It only identifies him for third parties. So, when G-d refers to Moses in the second person, ‘you’, that is even a more specific reference to Moses than his name.

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Seize Your Moment 1

Seize Your Moment!

The Purim megillah describes a tense moment between the two hero’s; Esther and Mordechai. Their discussion has a timeless lesson for us all about seizing moments that make a difference.

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Miracles

How To See Miracles

The story of Purim is recorded in Megilat Esther. At first glance this seems logical enough a name being that one of the protagonists goes by the name Esther. But

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Traditions Of Purim

The Traditions of Purim

The festival of Purim has four primary traditions and a number of localised customs. The primary traditions of Purim come from the Megillah – the scroll of Esther, and they are: Have a celebratory feast A celebratory feast is traditionally eaten on the afternoon of Purim day. In Jewish tradition a feast is defined by

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Vaeira – Breathe Easy

Vaeira – Breathe Easy

When Moshe Rabbeinu first approached his enslaved brothers and sisters, they ignored him. Rashi notes their breathing was stressfully shallow and short. A person of faith sidesteps anxiety and stress to move forward in life, as did the Jewish people who regained belief after the ten plagues.

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Toldot – Reason or Commitment

Toldot – Reason or Commitment

Why circumcise a child at 8 days?  Should we not wait till the child attains the age of reason and make decisions then?  Commitment goes beyond reason. It is the axiomatic bond that underlies the relationship, not reason. The baby, at 8 days, commits to G-d.

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