By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Vayelech, is both heartrending as well and inspirational. It begins with Moses speaking the following words to the Children of Israel: “Today, I am one hundred and twenty years old; and the Lord has told me that I will not cross the Jordan with […]
Author: AHWebMaint
A New Year’s Message for 5786 / 2025
by Student Rabbi, Sam Allie Shalom l’kulam. I’m so honored to be preparing for 5786 in community with you all, to be diving into new roles and relationships while we dive into this next year. Still quite new myself as a student rabbi, I’ve been reflecting lately on this idea of newness – what […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: NITZAVIM (DEUTERONOMY 29:9-30:20)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant After hearing the list of the 98 terrifying curses at the end of last week’s Torah parsha, Ki Tavo, the people were devastated and questioned whether they could possibly withstand such frightful punishments. Moses responded with the opening statement of Parsha Nitzavim: “You are all still standing this […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: KI TAVO (DEUTERONOMY 26:1-29:8)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah congregant This week’s parsha, Ki Tavo, begins with instructions from Moses to the Children of Israel. They are directed that on the very day that they cross the Jordan, to create two huge stones on which each word of the Torah will be clearly written. At that point, The […]
Bissel of Fun Logic Puzzles: September 2025
Send in your answers to get points. The top three puzzlers at the end of year will get gift cards PLUS ultimate bragging rights. Easy: 10 POINTS Medium: 20 POINTS Hard: 30 POINTS ________________________________________________ September 2025: Easy Level Temple Beth Am began planning for the January Tu Bishvat holiday and seder. Five experts on this holiday volunteered to purchase […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: KI TEITZEI (DEUTERONOMY 21:10-25:19)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Ki Teitzei, occurs as the Children of Israel are at the brink of embarking on war with hostile nations, as they tirelessly struggle to reach the ‘Promised Land.’ The parsha comprises seventy-four of the Torah’s six hundred and thirteen commandments. The separate commandments pertaining […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: SHOFTIM (DEUTERONOMY 16:18-21:9)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In previous parshiot we learned how God began preparing for the establishment of a new nation in the ‘Promised Land.’ Equal portions of the land were allotted, according to the population of each of the tribes. Last week’s Torah parsha, Re’eh, emphasized the importance of ‘tzedakah’ (charity), whereby […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: RE’EH (DEUTERONOMY 11:26-16:17)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant “See, I am setting before you today the blessing and the curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your GOD, which I am giving to you today; the curse if you disobey the commandments of the Lord, your GOD”(1). These are the first words […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: EKEV (DEUTERONOMY 7:12-11:25)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In this week’s parsha, Ekev, Moses continues his closing address to the Children of Israel, which he began in parsha Devarim, and expanded upon in last week’s parsha. Moses clearly was aware of the risks for this new generation. They may not remember the miracles, which God had […]
Bissel of Fun Logic Puzzles: August 2025
Send in your answers to get points. The top three puzzlers at the end of year will get gift cards PLUS ultimate bragging rights. Easy: 10 POINTS Medium: 20 POINTS Hard: 30 POINTS ________________________________________________ August 2025: Easy Level Gertrude, as chairperson of temple Sinai’s Book Club, is responsible for selecting the book to be read each month. Preparing for […]