“…you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week — fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to Adonai” –Lev. 23:15-16 Beginning on the eve of the second day of Passover, the Omer is counted each evening, signifying our preparation

This week we begin reading the fourth book of Torah, B’midbar, which literally means “in the wilderness.” It is a narrative of the Israelites’ forty years of wandering across the Sinai desert. In English the book is commonly referred to as the “Book of Numbers,” because it begins with God commanding Moses to take a

Yesterday, Tuesday, May 12th was the holiday of Lag Ba’Omer. It falls on the 33rd day of counting the Omer. By combining the Hebrew letter lamed, which has a numerical value of 30, and gimmel, whose numerical value is three – the holiday gets its name. There are various explanations for why we note this

A very timely reminder comes in this week’s Torah portion, Emor. That reminder is that we are in the period of counting the Omer. In a list of sacred festivals to be observed, we read, “you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week

Jews understand the foundational significance of Torah. Presenting the development of the relationship between the Israelites and God, its current relevancy simultaneously continues to teach and inspire us. Containing the stories that inform our collective memory, Torah is also the source of many of society’s cultural references. This past Sunday, our Religious School students (Yes,

This message is being composed on April 21st of 2020, coinciding this year with Yom Hashoah. At a time in our lives when we have been forced to pause, we have time to contemplate what gives us meaning and purpose. Jews around the world recognize that today our thoughts are about “never forgetting” and “never

The dichotomy between communal worship and individual home observance has always existed. These days, we realize more than ever that engaging in Jewish ritual is more about satisfying internal spiritual needs rather than communal expressions of Jewish identity. Normally our own Jewish practice is divided between our attendance at Temple, and what we do at

As we prepare to observe Passover, we may find ourselves comparing this year to previous ones. Many of us will be limited to on-line observances and making do with only a few of the ritual items and foods which would normally grace our Seder tables. It is in times like these that it is especially

That a rabbi might be grateful for a minyan is relatively common. That a rabbi can say “you made my day” to a Minion, is a bit more unusual. Over the weekend my doorbell rang, and I found a package of cookies placed between my front and screen doors. The note said “May these cookies

At this past Monday morning’s briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the State’s goal was to keep New Yorkers “…socially distanced, but spiritually connected.” While I prefer using the phrase “physically distanced,” I applaud the idea of “spiritual connection.” That is our goal here at Temple Am Echad as well, to keep our networks of connection