Hanukkah Lights Across the World...

Chanukah News from Across the Globe » Hanukkiah in Cologne/Germany 2010 » Download Hanukkah Greeting Card »   Once a year heavenly light will be close to us. Meant is not the Christ but in a very different way Jesus of whom a Jewish tradition says: “Now it was the Feast of Dedication [Hebrew: Hanukkah] in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” (Gospel of John 10:22)....

Shabbat Chaye Sarah Readings and Commentary...

Genesis 23:1–25:18; 1 Kings 1:1-31 Commentary by Michael Schneider, Jerusalem: Our Torah reading begins with Sarah’s death and ends with Abraham’s death. She was 127 years old. Abraham now set out to negotiate in typical Middle-Eastern style for a burial site. How come that our parasha Chayei Sarah means “the life of Sarah,” although it deals with the death of Sarah? Jewish sages explain it this way:...

Shabbat VaYera Readings and Commentary...

Genesis 18:1 – 22:24; 2 Kings 4:1-37 Please notice Current Themes article: Kristallnacht LUTHER Pogromnacht Summary of the Commentary by Michael Schneider, Jerusalem: We read in our weekly portion about good hospitality of Abraham and Sarah, as they hurried to prepare the best of the best for the three men of God who visited them in the heat of the day in Alon Mamre. This kind of extravagant hospitality is found in...

Shabbat Korach Readings and Commentary...

Numbers 16:1 – 18:32; 1 Samuel 11:14 – 12:22 Abstract of the Commentary by Michael Schneider, israel today, Jerusalem: This Shabbat’s Torah reading is about Korah’s rebellion. Korah descends from the Levitical family of Kehat. Altogether, there were 250 renowned men that “rose up” against Moses by doubting his and Aaron’s authority as the chosen national leaders. As if the separation of the Levites...

Shabbat TAZRIA Readings and Video Commentary...

Leviticus 12:1–13,59; Exodus 12:1-20; Ezekiel 45:16-46:18 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: The Torah concepts of tahara and tum’a, imperfectly translated as spiritual purity and impurity, are impossibly difficult for us to entirely grasp through our intellect. And this is because, simply put, these concepts, or the realities that they express, are so much greater than our...

Shabbat PEKUDEI Readings and Video Commentary...

Shabbat Pekudei (Amount of): Exodus 38:21-40:38; Haftorah: Kings II 12:1-17 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: With the completion of the Tabernacle the work of the creation of the world finally draws to a close. Moses blesses the work Israel has done, and now, the final piece in place, the world can begin! Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Vayakhel Readings and Video Commentary...

Exodus 35:1 – 38:20; Haftorah 1 Kings 7:40-50 [13-26] Video commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Insitute, Jerusalem: What’s new in the world? What’s new in your life? Moshe gathers all Israel together before him and reveals to them two things that never grow old and never get stale, but are always fresh and new, and spectacularly always in the moment, in a forever sort of way: the Holy Shabbat...

Shabbat Terumah Readings and Video Commentary...

Exodus 25:1 – 27:19 (and because of →Rosch Chodesh Numeri 28:9-15 … and instead of Haftarah 1 King 5:26 – 6:13) Haftara Isaiah 66:1-24 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: “Egypt is now behind us – it’s time to get down to business . . . G-d says essentially: We’ve been through enough together; after all He says: I created the world for a purpose: That you should know...

Shabbat Vayigash Readings and Video-Commentary...

Vayigash Genesis 44:18 – 47:27; Ezechiel 37:15-28 The Temple Institute Jerusalem Rabbi Chaim Richman says: Reconciliation between brothers and sisters, parents and children, lovers and friends, all have their root in Torah. The root for the ultimate reconciliation, between G-d and man, can be seen in the story of Yosef reuniting with his brothers. Shabbat Shalom

Hanukkah – Change the world...

Chanukkia in Köln < Hanukkah Menorah in Cologne/Germany 2010 Download Hanukkah Greeting Card here »   Once a year heavenly light will be close to us. Meant is not the Christ but in a very different way Jesus of whom a Jewish tradition says: “Now it was the Feast of Dedication [Hebrew: Hanukkah] in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” (Gospel of John 10:22)....