• Yom Hashoah and the Two Sons of Aaron: The Fire, The Silence, and the Cry

    Tonight at Kesher Israel, we will commemorate the Holocaust, whose cruelty was far beyond comprehension. We Americans of the 21st century live relatively secure and prosperous lives. It is hard to fathom that less than 100 years ago, there was nothing cheaper than Jewish blood—that more than one out of every three Jews was murdered,…

  • Lessons from Ezekiel and the Israeli Redemption

    Haftorah Ezikiel The haftorah of Parshat Parah this week tells us that the exile of the Jewish people is a desecration of God’s name, a Chilul Hashem:  “I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries, I punished them in accordance with their ways and their deeds.  But when they came…

  • The Power of Hands and Heart in Blessing

    This week’s Parsha, Shemini, tells the story of what happened on the eighth day of the Tabernacl’s existence, the day following the seven day process of inaugurating the Kohanim, the Priests, to prepare them for Temple service.   On this eighth day, one of the first acts as Kohen Gadol, High Priest, that Aaron performs…