“Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day.” (Deut. 6:6) In Parashat Va-etchanan, Moses prepares the Israelites to enter the land of Canaan by teaching the … Continued
Parashat D’varim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22)
“You saw how Adonai your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you travelled until you came to this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:31) Parashat D’varim … Continued
Parashat Mattot-Massei (Numbers 30:32-36:13)
“And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have assigned the land to you to possess.” (33:53) These two parashot (portions) close the book … Continued
Tourism in Israel at Highest Level
Although driving on Israel’s roads this time of the year can be frustrating, most Israelis are happy to inch along behind crowded tour buses. So far, 2012 is a banner … Continued
Affiliation vs. Engagement: Where Do You Stand?
Allan Finkelstein’s essay in eJewishphilanthropy on the need to move from the concept of membership/affiliation to that of engagement has sparked a lot of discussion. How does this change affect … Continued
Parashat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1)
“These are what you shall make for God on your appointed festivals, aside from your vows and your free-will offerings…” (Numbers 29:39) There is a story about King Solomon, who … Continued
Parashat Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9)
“My message was to bless: when He blesses, I cannot reverse it.” (Numbers 23:20) Parashat Balak is mostly taken up with the story of Bilam, the prophet sent to curse … Continued
Parashat Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1)
“The Cohen shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson thread, and he shall throw them into the burning of the cow.” (Numbers 19:6) Parashat Chukat opens with a mysterious and … Continued
Parashat Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32)
“From all your gifts you shall raise up every gift of God, from all its best part, its sacred part from it.” (Numbers 18:29) This week’s parasha (portion) is named … Continued
New Vision for the 21st Century JCC Unveiled
For the first time in more than twenty years, JCC Association has put forward a new statement of principles for the JCC Movement. Initiated by a group of executive directors … Continued