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PREPARING FOR SHAVUOT (2):A FRIENDLY WATER-FIGHT, ANYONE? ILLUSTRATIONS: Water festivals in various...

PREPARING FOR SHAVUOT (1): AN OLD/NEW HOLIDAY ILLUSTRATION: Celebrating the Torah in an old/new...

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT HAIR, ANYWAY? ILLUSTRATION: The Untrimmed Hair of the...

COOKING UP A NEW INTERPRETATION OF THE COUNTING OF THE ‘OMER ILLUSTRATION: “Happy 49th Birthday...

Use these links: Rabbi Panitz's Sermon https://youtu.be/ReyLt2gwHQk Cantor Proser's Parshat...

HAIRCUTS, CALENDAR, CULTURE AND RELIGION ILLUSTRATION: Barber Finder—Find a Barber—by Brooklyn Soap...

ISRAEL IN THE SONG OF DEBORAH: LONG-HAIRED? OR LONG-SUFFERING? ILLUSTRATION: Deborah, seated under...

ZOOM, GOLLY! GOLLY! ILLUSTRATION: Classic American synagogue architecture, as parodied by The...

Use these links: Rabbi Panitz's Sermon https://youtu.be/OsLjSYqB_0s Cantor Proser's Parshiyot...

THE ‘OMER-ISRAEL CONNECTION Illustration: ‘Omer Festival at Kibbutz Ginnegar, 1947 For many Jews...

AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSAY: DON’T FORGET! Illustration: The New York Times, front page, May 16, 1948...

COUNTING THE OMER: GETTING STARTED For us today, the ‘Omer moment in our daily prayer gatherings...

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ’OMER:THE SAGA OF BARLEY AND WHEAT Barley: spring-sown barley matures in about...

SOURCE: MY JEWISH LEARNING This minor holiday -- known for bonfires, weddings and haircuts --...

RECENT LESSONS FROM A NO-LONGER-RECENT WAR ILLUSTRATION: V-E Day in Times Square Such is the power of...

Use these links: Rabbi Panitz's Sermon:  https://youtu.be/BbnS7MV7bSw   Cantor Proser's Parshah:  ...

A MAKE-UP FOR PASSOVER? (4):“TONIGHT, TONIGHT, WON’T BE JUST ANY NIGHT” Oh moon, grow bright And...

A MAKE-UP FOR PASSOVER? (3):ENTER THE RABBIS: LEGAL IMAGINATION, TO KEEP HOPE ALIVE ILLUSTRATION:...

A MAKE-UP FOR PASSOVER? (2):A CELEBRATION OF PESACH SHENI, 2750 YEARS AGO ILLUSTRATION: Hezekiah’s...

A MAKE-UP FOR PASSOVER? Illustration: An intriguing—albeit impossible—Passover juxtaposition (1)...

NOW IS THE TIME TO LEARN FROM HISTORY Illustration: Liberty Loan Parade, Philadelphia, September...

The Weekly Portion Acharey-Mot YOM KIPPUR: YESTERDAY, TODAY and TOMORROW ILLUSTRATION: “It [the...

Use these links: The Hashkiveinu Prayer  https://youtu.be/v50BxrrcZJo Rabbi Panitz's sermon  ...

By Katie Hemmons, 9, 2020 No Camels—Israel Innovation News. April 29, 2020 Israel is celebrating its...

A SOMBER MILESTONE, AND A MORAL IMPERATIVE Illustrations: (1) Vietnam War Memorial; (2) Covid-19...

YOM HA’ATSMA’UT—ISRAEL’S INDEPENDENCE DAY—FROM ONE SILVER PLATTER TO ANOTHER Illustrations: Father and...

YOM HAZIKARON—ISRAEL’S MEMORIAL DAY -- IMPORTANT FOR US AS WELL Illustration: Israeli Yom...

USE THESE LINKS: https://youtu.be/3-7OVeQCy60...

BY JOSEFIN DOLSTEN A man takes part in a protest to reopen Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, April 20,...

TORAH TEACHINGS ON QUARANTINE Illustration: An Israelite, suffering from the condition of...

TWO STORIES OF LOSS AND COPING Illustration (1): The serpent stealing the herb of immorality from the...

REMEMBERING THE RESCUERS Illustration: Yad VaShem logo honoring the Righteous Gentiles who saved...

BY THE DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT Yesterday, I took part in a brit milah ceremony. It was not a typical...

Use this link for this week's Torah Reading Explanation...

“A Time to Speak and a Time to be Silent” ILLUSTRATION: The deaths of Nadav and Avihu, when they...

Sermon: Finding New Meaning in Old Forms https://youtu.be/Nu2LtJsfdG8   Torah Readings, Days 7 & 8...

PREPARING FOR YIZKOR2) THE MOURNERS’ KADDISH TODAY: OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLES Illustration: A...

PREPARING FOR YIZKOR(1) INVENTING THE MOURNERS’ KADDISH, AND ITS ALTERNATIVES [Note- today’s and...

***USE THESE LINKS*** Torah Explanation for Days 1 & 2 of Passover:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycb_UQZZHo0 Passover...

PASSOVER NIGHT IS “A NIGHT OF WATCHING”—THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR When it came to prayers,...

Virtual Services Information Rabbi Panitz office hours Dues Payments JELF Loan Information Found...

“The Terrible Had Gadya machine” and the Jewish Yearning for Peace” I teach the following poem (in the...

HAROSET: THE LOVE APPLES OF THE SEDER Some folks like to begin their talks by saying, “When I was...

KORECH: THE HILLEL SANDWICH, AND THE SECRET OF JEWISH ADAPTABILITY Illustration: The korech...

THE FOUR QUESTIONS, THEN AND NOW/ THE ANSWERS, THEN AND NOW Illustration: Haggadah published by...