by Rabbi David Levin | Jan 31, 2018 | Blessings
One of the most poignant moments in the Torah is found in Genesis 27:38. Jacob has received Isaac’s blessing. Bereft, Isaac’s other son the elder Esau, implores Isaac to find room in his heart for a blessing for him. “And Esau said to his father: ‘Do you have only one...
by Rabbi David Levin | Jan 23, 2018 | Blessings, General
We are in the midst of that transformational epic Jewish creation myth known as the Exodus. This is the beginning of the discussion of our core identity- a God who has freed us from bondage so that we may serve. There is an inherent tension in this idea of freedom and...
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...
