A Glaring Omission

Categories: Parsha, Tetzaveh

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY You know how some things are famous for what they aren’t? Like an apology that isn’t really an apology – “I’m sorry for how that made you feel.”Or a speech that doesn’t mention by name the one thing that people were listening for? So this week’s Parsha -Tetzaveh – is one of those… Read More

Give and Take

Categories: Parsha, Terumah

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY This week’s Parsha – Terumah – contains a lesson truly crucial to us as an organization. The Parsha begins, “v’yikchu li Terumah,” which literally translates to mean, “And they shall take to Me (G-d) contributions.” I translate literally because this word is confusing. Take? Isn’t “give” the more accurate term? There must be… Read More

Practically Perfect

Categories: Mishpatim, Parsha

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY Every Parsha has its theme. This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, has loads of commandments—53 in total—and is therefore called “Mishpatim,” which literally means “judgments.” This word typically refers to specific commandments, as Mitzvot are broken up into three categories. “Edut” are testimonials, those we wouldn’t necessarily have considered in establishing a society, but which… Read More

Free Advice!

Categories: Parsha, Yitro

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY There is a well-known Yiddish phrase that goes, “a gast oif a vayil zet far a mayil,” this translates to, (and never well because somehow it doesn’t have the same ring in English): a guest for a bit can see for a mile. This week’s Parsha (Yitro) is named after Moses’s father-in-law. Who… Read More

We Get What We Get…

Categories: Beshalach, Parsha

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY This week’s Parsha, Beshalach, tells of the Jewish people leaving Egypt and crossing the Sea. It also begins to tell us of their journey in the desert. Obviously, their time in the desert was a special one; most of the Torah revolves around it. The Jewish people were sustained throughout their travels by… Read More

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Commemorate the Future?!

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY Tonight begins the last days of Passover. These are days that commemorate the splitting of the Sea of Reeds (being approximately a week after the Jewish people were freed) as well as celebrate — strangely, in anticipation of—the future Redemption. Much is discussed about what “the Redemption” means and people tend to have… Read More

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Weekly Roundup: April 18, 2025

JOY Program Passover 2025 On Tuesday, April 8 the Friendship Circle partnered with the Branch and Merakey for an in-person gathering focused on Passover. The goal of JOY Programming is to bring together adult members of the community to celebrate Jewish holidays together. During this program, residents of Merakey learned about the meaning of Passover from Rabbi Mordy and enjoyed… Read More

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Happy Passover

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY While we technically start the holiday of Passover tomorrow night, this Shabbos, known as “Shabbat Hagadol,” the Great Shabbos, leads us right into the holiday. Because it’s a busy day, I’ll try to be as brief as possible. Passover celebrates the Jewish people’s liberation from Egypt. The Hebrew word from Egypt is “Mitzrayim,” which,… Read More

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