According to the Avot Treaty, in chapter 3, it is Rabbi Akiva who teaches us that Hakol tzafui vehareshut netuna "Everything is foreseen,...

Once again, I must begin my article in the Temple Times with images of an event I witnessed, just as it happened with last month's and...

For those of you who have not heard, Mundy has retired as Temple Beth El’s Executive Director. For many years, she has served temple and...

This parasha invites us to witness a very special process: that of how a complicated, intricate, and twisted individual in their...

And this is the lineage of Isaac, son of Abraham; Abraham fathered Isaac. (Genesis 25:19) Thus begins Parashat Toldot, which will delve...

"They were Sarah's days..." That's how this Parasha begins, with an enigmatic start, contradicting the Parasha's name, "The Lives of...

Every time we reread this Torah portion, I find myself pondering a recurring question, especially in these times. I'm not a fan of...

Now that the holidays are over (whew), I can look back and share all the events with you. The students of the religious school, along...

Once again, vivid memories flood my mind as I write for the Temple Times. Almost beautiful memories, like those we experienced during the...

Parashat Lech Lecha offers us a profound and transformative perspective. The phrase "Go from your land, from your birthplace, from your...

Parashat Noach encompasses two prominent stories; two stories that have always stayed with us in memory. The first, of course, is the...

We have always been a people with a religion and a long tradition of taking responsibility. Responsible for the world around us, for our...

Members of Temple Beth El of Utica strongly condemn the savage attacks carried out by extremist fanatics from the terrorist organization...

I am writing these lines as the melodies and words of the prayers of Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days) confront our conscience with the...

As you read this, the high holy days of 5784 are almost over. It was a very busy time, as it is every year. I would like to show my...

How many mitzvot are there? I am not referring to how many we fulfill or should fulfill, as some argue that there are mitzvot related to...

It is the first night in the sukkah, and what better way to celebrate than also observing Shabbat? The book of Vayikra (Leviticus) says:...

A Hasidic tale recounts that when the Baal Shem Tov sensed that a calamity was approaching for his people, he would retreat to a place in...

תִּקְע֣וּ בַחֹ֣דֶשׁ שׁוֹפָ֑ר בַּ֜כֶּ֗סֶה לְי֣וֹם חַגֵּֽנוּ Sound the shofar on the New Moon, on the appointed time for the day of our...

Lo Bashamaim hi. The Torah is not in the heavens. The Talmud illustrates this with a story we have shared before, the story of Taanuro...