Rosh Hashana
Nitzavim-Vayelech – Hashem is close
Why does the Torah stress that the commandments are not far away? What does it mean that they are in ‘your mouth and your heart to do them?’ What is the deeper concept of Teshuva – repentance – and why does it begin on Rosh Hashana, the day we crown Hashem our King? What is…
Read MoreNice video on Elul
Rosh Hashana 5771
Over the past seven years, I have led the davening on the Yomim Noraim in the Seattle area in the Shevet Achim shul on Mercer Island. It was a wonderful experience, leading a shul whose members are truly growing in their Judaism. The rav their, Rav Yechezkel Kornfeld is a really strong leader, loved by…
Read MoreMore on Yosef and Rosh Hashana
Yesterday I was reviewing the Gemara in Rosh Hashana that speaks about when Moshiach will come, either in Tishrei or Nissan. I had forgotten that the Gemara there says something very significant that I never understood. The Beraisa lists off a number of things that occurred on Rosh Hashana and Pesach. One of the events…
Read MoreApples, Rosh Hashana, and tikkun hakilkul
This past Friday night, as we sat down to our Rosh Hashana meal, I was struck with a question that never crossed my mind before. We had said Hamotzi already, and had begun the seder of simanim, and we of course started first with the most obvious siman – dipping our apples in honey. We…
Read MoreRosh Hashana – Day of Unity
How do we understand the central themes of Rosh Hashana? What is the concept of Kingship? What is the concept of the Shofar? Why are we judged on this day? What does it mean that the world was created on this day? What was the great tragedy that occurred on Rosh Hashana? Find out in…
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