Estee Lightstone - Educator Chanukah in Israel – A New ChapterAs we celebrate Chanukah this year in Israel, the significance of the holiday feels more profound than ever before. The streets of Israel today echo with the footsteps of the modern-day Maccabees—men and women who, like...
Lani Margolias - Educator Studies show that over 70% of teens are not happy with the way they look, and that percentage increases as they get older, especially with women. When did looks and the emphasis on appearances become a focus in our society? The truth...
Rav Effie Kleinberg - Educator Shouting our message to the world.In our parasha, Ya’akov is transformed from an individual into a father of the nation of Israel. We are the Nation of Israel, and it is in this parasha where we get our name and...
Rav Yonaton Hirschhorn - Educator During this month of Kislev, the nights grow longer and ever darker. According to the Kabbalah, the month of Kislev parallels the act of sleep. What’s the connection? What good could there possibly be in sleeping? Isn’t it just a...
Rav Yehoshua Felberg - Educator Parashat ToldotWho is Yitzhak? It’s a question that should have a simple answer. Yitzhak is the son of Avraham and the father of Yaakov. He is the child of the covenant, the ram that was not sacrificed, the living whole burnt offering. And...
Esther Farkovits - Educator “ויבאה יצחק האהלה שרה אמו" )כד:סז ( Rashi comments on the pasuk "Into his mothers, Sarah's tent"He explains that when Rivka was brought into the tent of Sarah, she had become exactly like Yitzchak's mother, Sarah. That is to say, the words signify as much as,...
Rav Avi Block - Educator In the Torah’s dramatic account of Akeidat Yitzchak, the story culminates with something peculiar. When Avraham is stopped from committing the act of slaughtering his son, a divine angel is sent to deliver the message. Following this message, Avraham performs...
Lauren Friedman - Programming "Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you” (Bereshit 12:1)This week's Parasha is all about Avraham Avinu, the first person who ever believed in one G-d.Avraham was a man...
Sophie Felberg - Office Manager 'הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽ - Noach walked with the Almighty (Berashit 6:9)What can we learn from this little, short sentence? How did Noach walk in the way of Hashem, which means to do good to others, and yet the people at the time...
Sara Dinerstain - Chessed Coordinator Yom Kippur is the day we stand before Hashem, not only as individuals but also as a community and a nation. We acknowledge our mistakes and ask for forgiveness. We pray for growth and change. This week, I had the privilege...