Rabbi's Corner

Message from the Rabbi

 Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יהוה is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:20)
The above quote coupled with “you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land”(Leviticus 25:10) the Torah implores us to understand the centrality of justice and freedom.  It is what my heart longs for more and more. 
​​​​​​​Every day for the last 332 days I have wavered between my desire for liberty and my yearning for justice.  I want liberty for those still held and justice for those who have been killed.   With the news this past Sunday of the death of 6 more hostages I lean towards what will justice for killing these 6 innocent people look like and will we know when we see it.  Will Hamas ever be held accountable and who will exact it? 
“Justice justice you shall pursue” and “you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land” are two sides of the same coin.  Without one there can never be the other.

Starting this week! 
Wednesday evenings from 8:00-9:00 September 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2024
This four-week course is for individuals of all experience levels. Throughout the course, we will learn the most commonly recited Jewish prayers and blessings. The class will be conducted using transliteration, which means the Hebrew text will be presented alongside phonetic pronunciation for ease of learning. The essential prayers and blessings we will cover include the High Holy Day blessings, Shabbat blessings, Aliyot for Torah reading, and core prayers like the Shema and V’ahavta. By the end of this course, you will be able to actively participate in Jewish rituals and ceremonies with confidence.
Registering is a must by rsvping to Rabbistein@ghcny.org When you register I will provide the link.