March 2024

The early spring holidays, Purim and Passover, are the epitome, and undoubtedly the inspiration, of that old saw: “they tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat.” The two holidays celebrate victory over different approaches to destroying the Jews. The Purim story...

January 2024

This year (5784) is a leap year on the Jewish calendar. This means we’ll be adding an extra month, First Adar, which begins on February 10th of the secular calendar this year. This extra month will push our holidays from being early in their range (measured against...

November 2023

Normally, I look ahead to the time period covered by the upcoming Scroll for something to write about. On this occasion, I must address the events of the recent past, and unfolding at present. But words fail. It’s not because there is nothing to say about the terror...

September 2023

Over the High Holy Days, we pass through the threshold of the new year, not only in fact but in focus. During the month of Elul, last of the old year, we focus on the year past, examining our own behavior and character during the year coming to an end, and asking...

June 2023

On the traditional Jewish calendar, summer is the season of tragedy. To the modern ear, this may sound perverse. Summer is the season of vacation! Summer camp! Swimming pools! But there is a cold historical logic underlying this verity: summer is the high season for...

May 2023

In honor of what amounts to the Torah’s birthday on Shavuot, I’d like to take the opportunity to mention some upcoming and ongoing learning opportunities: First, our ongoing “Nach” (Prophets and Writings) class meets Mondays at 4 pm. By the time you read this, we’ll...

March 2023

The spring holiday season is upon us! Though not nearly as concentrated or intense as their fall counterparts, the spring holidays – from Purim in early March this year to Shavuot falling in late May – are easily the busiest such an extended period on the Jewish...

December 2022

In recent weeks, we have been witness to a disturbing trend: a rash of public celebrity figures openly engaging in anti-Semitic acts and statements. The current spate began in early October with the rapper Kanye West (who lately goes by “Ye,” which he pronounces...

November 2022

Before reading on, take a moment to answer this question: we light Chanukah candles in our windows for פרסומי ניסא (pirsumei nisa), “publicizing the miracle” of Chanukah. What is the miracle of Chanukah? Chances are, your answer had to do with a one-day supply of...

September 2022

As the High Holy Days come into view over the horizon, this year my mind is on the sometimes forgotten fall holiday that sneaks in behind: Sukkot (or Succoth, if you hanker for old-timey transliterations that won’t upset your computer’s spell checker). There is a very...