Dear Family of Friends, In last month’s column, I introduced you to two rabbis from the Talmud: the literal-minded Shammai, who lit his Hanukkah menorah with eight candles on the first night, removing one each subsequent night to commemorate the decreasing oil, and the more subtle Hillel, who began with a single candle and increased Continue Reading »
Dear family of friends, Hanukkah doesn’t begin this year until the end of December, but the season of darkness is already upon us, and we find ourselves in need of kindling lights. In this time of year when the nights are at their longest, we can draw inspiration from the Maccabees. The Talmud tells us that Continue Reading »
Dear Family of Friends, I have heard from many people that these past High Holiday services were a particularly beautiful experience for them, and I must say that they were deep and moving for me as well. It is written in the Talmud (Berachot 63b) that “Torah is only acquired in community,” and indeed, any successes Continue Reading »
Dear Family of friends, As the the long-anticipated High Holidays finally arrive, I’d like to share with you a parable attribute to the 19th century Hasidic rabbi Hayyim of Zans: A man had been wandering about in a forest for several days, not knowing which was the right way out. Suddenly he saw a man Continue Reading »
