SB Left – 2 Column

I was at the Legislature again this past Shabbat afternoon, with a few regulars, including Sharona. Various people dropped by to express their gratitude for our showing up. Cruise ship travellers walking by, some from Israel, some Canadian, an American and an Australian. Iris from Israel, now Halifa, in town for a conference stood with […]

This is a very particular and special week in our calendar. The Yamim – or more colloquially, the Yoms. Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. Days of memory, memorializing and a day of celebration with Israel on Yom HaAtzmaut. And then this coming Shabbat will also be special as we have two young women […]

Pesach is over, but is it? We have another opportunity in our tradition, Pesach Sheini, for those who could not sit with family and friends at Seder. May this be the year that the hostages are finally home, and can say with their loved ones, Vehi sheamda. This year Pesach Sheini will be observed on May […]

Chag Pesach sameach, everyone – we had just a wonderful Seder. Thank you to all the souls who helped set up, put away, sweep the floor, sing, play music, prepare charoset – so much help, but best of all was being together, meeting new people, sharing and renewing friendships, and food. Marilyn sent me a […]

Over these past weeks several members of Kolot Mayim have died. I want to make mention of both Caroline Hergt and Sheila Greenberg. Caroline and her family were founding members of Kolot Mayim – her three children – Quintin, Gabby and Sheldon grew up in our kehillah. The Hergt family donated the breastplate of our […]

Ki Tissa is such a monumental parashah. We read about the stone Tablets inscribed by the finger of God, the Golden Calf, the shattering of those tablets, and then God instructs Moses – “Carve for yourself two stone Tablets like the first ones, and I shall inscribe on the Tablets the words that were on […]

This week we read Tetzaveh, command. We read, again in great deal, the garments commanded to be worn by the Kohanim, the Priests. These garments resonate particularly with members of the Chevrah Kadisha, as the garments worn by the dead are called by the same names as these priestly garments.  

Shavua tov, a good week, everyone. This past Sunday evening many people, Jews and allies, stood together downtown in a light-filled vigil to honour the Bibas family and all hostages who are coming home to Israel, alive and dead. These are very challenging days as unimaginable horrors are visited upon Israel. We stand not just […]