The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah
Editor’s note: This story was produced as part of B’nai Jehudah’s “A Moment in our History” series running online to celebrate the congregation’s 150th anniversary.
QUESTION: Can you tell me the difference between Jewish law and Custom?
ANSWER: Jewish law rules and regulations are either mandated by the Torah and/or Bible and regulations made by the rabbis of old in the period of the Mishna and the Talmud. Examples of Torah law are the dietary laws, many of the laws of Shabbat, etc. Laws from the rabbis include things like the second days of the festivals that are observed by Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel. Similarly, rules and regulations of not using the Shofar on Shabbat, etc. These are all from the Rabbis of old.
Like many of you, I don’t typically make healthcare decisions based on the cost of services.
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters.” Epictetus, Greek Philosopher.
Orthodox, Traditional and Conservative Jews refrain from celebrating joyous occasions, including weddings, during certain days of the seven-week period between the second day of Passover and Shavuot known as the sefirat haomer or “the counting of the omer.”
A book reviewer is supposed to attract the reader’s interest in learning the story by way of the book.
Most readers of The Chronicle will already know the basic story shared in Mindy Corporon’s tome, “Healing a Shattered Soul: My Faithful Journey of Courageous Kindness after the Trauma and Grief of Domestic Terrorism,” or are at least familiar with it.
Editor’s note: This message is reprinted from a weekly shabbat email sent March 19 to HBHA families and friends.
This week was the Grammys! For those of you who weren’t paying close attention, the winner of the Best Comedy Album went to Tiffany Haddish — the first black woman to win this Grammy Award since Whoopie Goldberg won it in 1986. The name of her show? Black Mitzvah (now available on Netflix!).
As we handed over our one way tickets to the agent at the gateway, we knew that there was no turning back. Here we are making that giant leap of a transition from a small town called Brooklyn, New York, to the big city of Lawrence, Kansas.
The Jewish calendar as we know it today was designed by Hillel II. The name was really Hillel, but we add or call him Hillel II so as not to confuse him with the famous Hillel, who lived several centuries before him.
We don’t speak enough about domestic violence in the Jewish community. This is true of all Jewish communities. Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky, one of the foremost experts and advocates in the Jewish community regarding mental health and the issues of domestic violence and substance abuse, saw mental health issues, and relationships in particular, through spiritual care lenses.
