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Aryeh Green Speaks at TBS Kabbalat Shabbat — 7:30 PM

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Aryeh Green is the director of Media Central, a Jerusalem center providing support services for journalists based in or visiting Israel and the region. Mr. Green has an extensive background in strategic communications in both the public and private sectors. He has been a senior advisor to Natan Sharansky, former Member of Knesset and Deputy Prime Minister, working to combat anti-Semitism and to promote democracy — as well as a high-tech executive and business consultant.

An Israeli for almost the past quarter-century, Mr. Green has been published in Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Israel21C, Washington Jewish Week, SF Northern California Jewish Bulletin, in Israel Insider, and most recently contributed a chapter in the book, “Academics Against Israel and the Jews” on the European university environment (Jerusalem, JCPA, 2007).

Parashat Korah

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Parashat Korah is one of those key transitional places in The Torah. For many weeks, we have been reading about The Journey of The Children of Israel through the wilderness. We read about the glorious redemption from slavery in Egypt, about the power of God and the reluctant determination of Moses to lead the people.It is important to remember what a reluctant leader Moses always was. Our Sages have taught us that Moses was the most humble man ever to walk the earth; he didn’t want to be a leader but God and History had completely different plans for him. Moses was the one who considered himself an “Arel Sfatayim (someone with uncircumcised lips).” It took major convincing and arm twisting from God to send Moses on his way to help free our People from bondage. (more…)

Playing Movie Critic For A Day

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

For some reason I feel compelled to write a note about a movie I just watched. I must admit that even though my major in college was in journalism and communications, I am not much of a movie critic. I like all sorts of movies. Without a doubt, my favorite kind is shoot-‘em-up movies and the occasional well done comedy. 

 

Why do I like action films? Why do I love comedies? Well for one, I see enough drama in my everyday life that when I go to the movies, I just want to sit back, relax and enjoy. 

 

I just came back from watching “You don’t Mess With The Zohan.” I am still trying to figure out what I think. (more…)

Randy Neal to Speak at TBS at 7:30 PM.

Friday, June 20th, 2008

During our Kabbalat Shabbat at 7:30 PM this evening, we will have the opportunity to listen to a wonderful speaker with a unique message. Randy Neal is the Western Regional Coordinator for Christians United For Israel (CUFI), a national coalition of pro-Israel churches, ministers, Para-church organizations and individuals that serves to mobilize and equip Christians to tangibly stand with Israel. (more…)

New Alternative to The Orthodox Monopoly on Marriage in Israel

Friday, June 20th, 2008

I am so proud of The Masorti Movement in Israel! They have launched a major campaign promoting themselves as an alternative to The Orthodox Monopoly on Marriage in Israel. As you can read in the press release, our movement in Israel has detected something that has been going on and was un-addressed for so many years. 

 

When young Israelis that have no contact or connection with Orthodoxy want to get married, many, really MANY of them, opt out by going to Cyprus and other countries and having just a civil ceremony. Something had to be done and now IT IS BEING DONE. (more…)

AIPAC Policy Conference 2008

Sunday, June 8th, 2008

Rabbi Goodman with Faye and Dr. Leon SteinbergLast week I had the wonderful opportunity of leading a group of members of our congregation to the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington D.C. If you have never attended an AIPAC policy conference, I must tell you — you are absolutely missing out on one of the most energizing and powerful events that exist in the realm of Israel activism, not only in the United States but throughout the world. (more…)

Parashat Naso

Friday, June 6th, 2008

This Shabbat, we will read Parashat Naso, which is the largest Torah portion in the entire Torah. We could certainly spend hours studying and understanding the numerous concepts that appear in this Parashah.  Among other things, Parashat Naso contains the explanation of The Ordeal of The Sotah, the explanation for the Vows of The Nazarites and The Priestly Blessing.  

 

Rather than talking about The Torah Portion for this week, I would like to share some of my thoughts on The Haftarah for Parashat Naso. The Haftarah for this Shabbat tells the story of the remarkable birth of one of our Biblical Heroes — Shimshon (Samson). The reason why we read this particular Haftarah on this Shabbat is due to the link between Shimshon being a Nazarite himself (having taken that vow) and the description of The Vow of The Nazarite contained in Parshat Naso.  (more…)

Opening Prayer in U.S. House of Representatives

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

This past Tuesday, June 3, 2008 I experienced one of the most exhilarating moments of my life. Thanks to the friendship and generosity of Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, one of our Temple Beth Sholom’s most prominent members, I was invited to deliver The Opening Prayer at The U.S. House of Representatives. (more…)

Parashat B’midbar

Friday, May 30th, 2008

This week we began reading Parashat B’midbar, which owes its name to The Book of The Torah that we began reading this week: Sefer B’midbar. B’midbar is an incredible turning point in The Torah because it takes us to a completely different level of understanding of what our relationship with God should be as Jews. Parashat B’midbar is always read on The Shabbat that precedes The Holy Day of Shavuot. This in and by itself tells us much about the nature of revelation. Shavuot commemorates the gift of Torah by God to The Children of Israel. Why did God choose The Wilderness to give us The Torah? The context of B’midbar is one of wilderness and wandering. 

 

The years that we spent in The Midbar (The Wilderness) were years of tremendous growth — both physical and spiritual. It was a time of wandering and yearning. Some of the most precious things in life are not automatic. Sometimes to understand what a gift or a blessing really means, we have to detach ourselves from all extraneous influences and thoughts. (more…)

The Kiryat Bialik Youth Violin Ensemble

Friday, May 30th, 2008

On Sunday June 8, 2008, we will be hosting one of the most wonderful programs that we have had at Temple Beth Sholom during the year. If you still haven’t heard, we have a group of eight children from Israel who are students at The Schwartz Conservatory in Kiryat Bialik (near Haifa). These eight children are not only extremely talented and have won numerous international prizes for their music — they represent a new generation of Israelis! They will perform not only beautiful classical music but will also make us rejoice an experience profound joy through the haunting melodies of our People’s music. (more…)