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Sukkot
I look out onto our back porch and marvel again at this conjunction of joyous seasons. Our sukkah is up and colorful with hanging fabric walls, flowers, banana plant leaves and palm branches, a lulav and Etrog are awaiting to be shaken on the first morning of Sukkot – which also happens to be Canadian […]
Nitzavim
A number of us watched the funeral services for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on Monday morning. I was so struck by the exactitude of execution of each element of this service, the dignity and grace of the services, and by the sheer magnificence of the honours offered to her. This service truly was unlike anything […]
Ki Tavo
What a week – and more to come! Sunday morning we had our first B’nei Mitzvah class of the year with four students in attendance. Welcome Noah, Yardenne, Ariel and Sarahi. I think we are all in for a wonderful year of learning. We also started a new cycle of learning on Wednesdays at noon – we […]
Ki Teitzei
אֶ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ דֹּרֵ֣שׁ אֹתָ֑הּ תָּמִ֗יד עֵינֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּ֔הּ מֵֽרֵשִׁית֙ הַשָּׁנָ֔ה וְעַ֖ד אַחֲרִ֥ית שָׁנָֽה׃ {ס} We read in Parashat Eikev, a few weeks ago, “It is a land which your God looks after, on which your God always keeps an eye, from year’s beginning to year’s end.” We think of these words as we welcome Stephen, Carolyn, and Nina into Judaism, and as […]
Elul
I have had a very special morning today; up at 4:30 to stand with three people who after two years (and more) of learning and practice have joined the holy covenant. After each person met with a Beit Din, this morning they (sequentially) entered the waters of life at very first light for mikvah. They […]
Summertime
Hello everyone, my days have been full: the figs are ripe (happy days), we have had a few long-overdue dinners, and we are looking forward to a few days with our son and grandchildren. Plus I have been planning weddings, setting up a Beit Din for three adults and one wee baby, B’nei Mitzvah planning, […]
Pinchas
What a week of blessing we have had, with more to come. Being in a community like Kolot Mayim is very much like being in that flowing river that Charlotte Marcovitz mentioned in her d’var about her parashah: Balaam sings in a poem to the nation Israel: “How goodly are your tents O Jacob, your dwelling […]
Balak
This week our Torah portion is called Balak – and yet even as the King of Moab appears to be calling the shots, it is the character of Bilam that is more intriguing. Bilam is a wizard – millennia before Hogwarts – and his reputation is known across the lands. Bilam is commanded by the […]
Bereshit
October 16, 2022 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: bereshit, greetings at synagogue •
This week we begin at the beginning again – we roll our Sefer Torah to Bereshit, and read about the beginning of Creation. What are you beginning this season? As you roll the Sefer of your life, what is your order of creation in these coming days? Looking forward to speaking with you as you are […]