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As I write these words, I know my heart and all of our hearts are full of anticipation, hope and profound relief that the hostages will be returning home in hours. These last two years have brought unimaginable grief to their families, an entire nation, and Jews around the world.

Sukkot approaches, the joy increases, as we celebrate not only the harvest of our fields, but the harvest of our hearts. Celebrating Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur together was beautiful, moving, and musically exquisite. Special thanks to Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, Bruce Vogt, Anabel Wind, Annika Gelman, and of course Tsofit Dori and Jenny Pakman, who […]

Very briefly, as the gates are opening with each moment approaching Rosh Hashanah. May 5786 be a year of new beginnings, deep connection, and joyful moments. May we see peace in our Land and a return home for all the hostages. Shanah Tovah Umetukah: Wishing you a good and sweet year, and Ketivah Vachatimah Tovah: May you be […]

I can almost imagine the anticipation of Jews of millennia ago, walking towards the Temple for the Yomtovim, looking forward to seeing friends and family, bringing precious fruits and gifts with them. The days are hot and dusty, the roadways filled with people all heading uphill to Jerusalem. Anticipation tempered with tiredness. Children run like […]

This past Shabbat three people new to Kolot Mayim walked through our doors. Others returned after an absence. Old friends met new people – it was a lovely and special morning. What a blessing it is to have a place and time where chance can intermingle with scheduled. Ki Tavo, our Torah reading this week, […]

We picked the last fig this week, even as we are able to see many more small figs that could ripen in a second season in a different climate. We hold their promise to next years fig-season.  Such is life, anticipation, full taste, move on. Ki Tetze provides us with many mitzvot in a manner […]

As I write this on Sunday afternoon, I am imagining hearing the shofar blown across the world. Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the first day of Elul, a new moon, and very special as it is also Rosh Hashanah L’Ma’sar Behemah (Hebrew: ראש השנה למעשר בהמה‎ “New Year for Tithing Animals”) or Rosh Hashanah LaBehemot (Hebrew: ראש השנה לבהמות‎ “New Year for (Domesticated) Animals”. Rosh Chodesh Elul […]

This week is a week where we are commanded to Re’eh, רְאֵה‎, to See. See can mean a visual command, it can also indicate a question; do you understand? But which ‘you’ is the question. Let’s look at the first verse: “See, I present before you today, a blessing and a curse.” This is such a […]

I look forward to these weeks (as we steadily approach the Yomtovim) with a mixture of dread and enormous loving gratitude. Yes, I am all too aware of what an odd combination these emotions reveal. Right on cue, a rabbi I correspond with, spoke about meeting other Rabbonim at a conference recently, and the conversation amongst […]

Va’etchanan is the second parashah in Devarim – where we re-visit the Aseret Dibrot and the Shema – words to live by. I spoke last Shabbat about word – all the many words of our canon and all the words in our subsequent writings. This week we learn to listen, to make time for inner […]