by Rabbi David Levin | Jan 18, 2018 | General, Teaching
We are far more than animals; our connection to our past and our aspirations and dreams for our future make us in the Divine Image. Thus, as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks insightfully explains Moses’ actions in this week’s Torah portion Bo, we are instructed on the eve of the...
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 29, 2017 | Blessings, General
This Shabbat we read Parsha Vayechi, closing the Book of Genesis. This coincides with the end of the secular year 2017. The religious and secular realms share something else as well; we immediately move forward into the Book of Exodus and seamlessly, 2018 starts....
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 27, 2017 | Blessings, Teaching
And He lived- This Parsha marks the final chapter in Jacob’s life and the Book of Genesis. Jacob takes his final moments to wonder if indeed his life was worth living. Was the struggle with God was successful. Will Jacob’s understanding and embrace of the Divine...
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 24, 2017 | Blessings, Chesbon HaNefesh, Teaching
It’s hard to get where you are going if you don’t know where you are And you can’t know where you are if you don’t know where you’ve been. As aphorisms go, mine admittedly needs some work, but I hope you get the gist of it. We are ourselves like links in a...
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 15, 2017 | Blessings, General
What was it precisely, this miracle that is part of our lore? Was it the triumph of the Jews over the Greeks? Was it finding the single cruse of pure oil? Was it lighting the menorah even though there was only one day’s supply of oil? Was it that the flame burned for...
