There’s No Holiness Without Preparation Rav Soloveitchik, a prominent 20th century Modern Orthodox scholar, used to share widely his favorite credo or mantra, ” אין קדושה בלי הכנה – there’s no holiness without preparation.” – and I…
Dear Congregation Etz Hayim, this week we read parashat Tazria. Next week, parashat Metzora. It was exactly around this parashiot that we changed our lives to protect each other and shelter in place two years ago. As I read these texts again this year, I have mixed feelings. I feel hopeful yet afraid. Optimistic while holding back. I count multiple blessings on my life right now while seeing our world being destroyed outside my little bubble.
Two weeks ago I shared with you a message asking for help for our friends in the Masorti/Conservative Community of Ukraine. Thank you so much for doing your part and helping them. Following is a message from them sharing how the resources were used and updates on their situation. Many of them were able to leave Ukraine already. Some families were welcomed by other Jewish communities in Hungary, Germany, and Poland. Others went to Israel and were welcomed by the leadership of Masorti Olami, the global organization of Masorti/Conservative communities.
Dear CEH community,
We share the concern and the pain with our fellow communities and all the people in Ukraine right now.
Yesterday, Masorti/Conservative communities from around the world gathered together to pray for the well-being of our brothers and sisters and all those in Ukraine under attack. Rabbi Reuven Stamov spoke directly from Ukraine with the latest updates of our communities there.
A few days ago, I was in sunny California getting together with the most influential Jewish musicians of our time. Many rabbis, educators, cantors, and lay leaders came to learn together with these rockstars about our tradition and how to take it to the next level through music and community building.
Come learn with Rav Natan how to read and chant Torah! Tuesdays from 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM starting March 1. You must know how to read Hebrew.
To my dear Etz Hayim family, I know we have all been thinking of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, and we are deeply relieved that this terrible situation has ended with no injury to the rabbi or synagogue members held hostage. I write to you because it is important that we support each other as a community at this very difficult time.
While most holidays have an entire tractate of Talmud dedicated to their little details, Hanukkah appears as a side conversation in the middle of the tractate about Shabbat (21b). The rabbis are discussing what is the essential…
“Bar Kapra taught: There is no dream that does not have an interpretation.” (Bereshit Rabbah 68:16) Celebrating Together In this weeks Torah portion, we read about the famous dream Yaakov had on his way up to Haran,…
There’s No Holiness Without Preparation Rav Soloveitchik, a prominent 20th century Modern Orthodox scholar, used to share widely his favorite credo or mantra, ” אין קדושה בלי הכנה – there’s no holiness without preparation.” I could not…