375 Aberdeen Ave., Hamilton, ON L8P 2R7 | 905-522-1351 | office@bethjacobsynagogue.ca
375 Aberdeen Ave., Hamilton, ON L8P 2R7 | 905-522-1351 | office@bethjacobsynagogue.ca
This week we being to read about the construction of the Mishkan (or tabernacle), the portable Temple that the Children of Israel used during the 40 years they wandered in the desert. The description spans four parashot –Terumah and Tetzaveh contain the instructions, and Vayak’hel and Pekudei describe the implementation. At the very beginning of Terumah, the parasha elaborates on how donations were solicited for the necessary Continue Reading »
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful Parashot of the Torah is Parashat Mishpatim, which sets the ground rules for a just and socially healthy society where everyone’s needs are met and the underprivileged and vulnerable are properly cared for, with dignity. The Parasha contains 53 commandments. Lending money is considered a religious obligation Continue Reading »
This week we read of the revelation on Mount Sinai and the giving of the Two Tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. According to Jewish tradition, the tablets were enormous in both size and weight. They were likely made of lapis lazuli rock, and were one cubit tall, one cubit wide, and half a cubit thick (or 48 × 48 × Continue Reading »
This week we read of the parting of the Red Sea. On their way out of Egypt, the Israelites found themselves trapped between the sea on one side and the Egyptian army on the other. The people panicked. Moses told them to have faith and to continue travelling towards the sea. And when they Continue Reading »
In our Torah portion this week we read of the Exodus from Egypt. The night before the Exodus, while the Egyptians were suffering from the final plague, Slaying of the Firstborn, the Israelites were sitting down for the first Passover Seder. They had been instructed to take a branch of hyssop, dip it in blood Continue Reading »
This week we continue reading the story of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt, eventually leading up to the Exodus. In this week’s portion we read of the first seven of the ten plagues. One of Judaism’s foundational values is showing loving-kindness to those in need. Loving-kindness towards others is central to the Exodus story as Continue Reading »
When Moses has his first encounter with God at the Burning Bush, Moses questions his own worthiness to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. God tells Moses that he is worthy, even if only because God is sending him and will be with him. God then gives Moses a sign by which he can know Continue Reading »
This Shabbat we complete the first book of the Torah, Bereshit (Genesis). When we read the very last verse of the five books of the Torah, custom is for the congregation to exclaim “Ḥazak Ḥazak VeNit’ḥazek!” which means, “be strong, be strong, and let us all strengthen ourselves!” We encourage the Torah reader and congregation Continue Reading »
Beth Jacob Synagogue joins the world community in mourning the incomprehensible loss of 176 innocent lives, aboard the Ukrainian International Airlines flight which crashed minutes after takeoff from Tehran, Iran’s main airport, Wednesday. Among the victims were 63 Canadians. Two were grad students at McMaster University, and a third was a researcher at McMaster until Continue Reading »
As we continue reading the Joseph story, many of us are surprised by how cruel Joseph appears to be towards his brothers and his beloved father. Joseph’s actions are completely human and expected; how could he have responded otherwise after what his brothers had done to him? Still, with the story recounted in the Torah Continue Reading »
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