Let me be frank; the way in which our community views the concept of B’nai Mitzvah is entirely broken. But first, let’s turn to the moment when Abraham, our forefather, chose a path of …
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d'Var Torah
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10/27/17
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God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4)
The first five verses of Torah (Genesis 1:1-5) tell us that before God began creating the …
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d'Var Torah
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10/16/17
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The flag of Rhode Island displays our state symbol – an anchor – with the word “Hope” emblazoned below. I have always liked that image, and it took on even more meaning a few …
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d'Var Torah
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9/25/17
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It seems that when most people successfully complete a project, reach a personal milestone or accomplish something particularly difficult, their natural inclination is to be proud of all the work …
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d'Var Torah
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9/7/17
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How do you know when your zeal for righteousness has veered into the realm of self-righteousness? How do you know when you have become so enthusiastic about what you believe that you …
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d'Var Torah
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8/24/17
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Parsha: Ekev
Sometimes, when faced with enormous challenges, we raise our hands to the sky and proclaim: “It’s impossible!” Sometimes, when faced with seemingly unbeatable odds, …
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d'Var Torah
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8/10/17
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If you live in Rhode Island, you’ve probably been to Allie’s Donuts, a legendary stop on the way to Narragansett. I’m sorry to report that they fry their famous donuts in animal fat …
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d'Var Torah
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6/23/17
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In just a few months, Temple Beth-El will welcome the High Holy Days with a brand new machzor (High HolyDay prayer book). This is the first machzor since “Gates of Repentance,” …
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d'Var Torah
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6/9/17
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The Torah portion just before Shavuot is named Bamidbar , which translates to “In the Wilderness.” Our rabbis have long been fascinated that the Torah was given to Israel …
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d'Var Torah
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5/25/17
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Lag B’Omer – the Hebrew letters lamed and gimel represent the numerical equivalent of 33, and so Lag B’Omer is a shorthand way of referring to the 33rd day of the 50-day count …
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d'Var Torah
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5/11/17
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