Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan / ראש חודש חשון Tuesday, October 29 & Wednesday, October 30 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan

This week's 10-Minute Torah (10/26/2019) "Parashat B'Reishit": https://youtu.be/_M4LxD6QQlY UPCOMING SERVICES: Saturday, November 2 @ 9:30am. More details to follow next week.

D'var Torah for Parashat B'reishit #ParashatBReishit #TorahCommentary #DvarTorah

https://youtu.be/JoLrvAKKfzY

Sermon This upcoming week, we finish up the High Holidays by saying “Good Bye” to the Sukkot. We then finish up reading the Torah, have a big celebration, and then roll it back to the beginning and start reading all over again. Disney isn’t the only entity that honors the “Circle of Life”. Many might ask, “Well, we’ve read the Torah once, twice, maybe three times already. Why read again?” Because every time we read it, we see something new. Every time we read it, it has new information, and new message, something we might not have seen before. It’s not that we missed it for some reason, but rather because having read it before or being a year older and wiser, we now have grown to the point in which we’re ready for that particular insight or understanding. Perhaps even more to the point, we’re more in a position to be able to use that new knowledge appropriately. It’s always nice how the Torah relates to our lives in both specific and general ways. In a very general way, this whole process of the High Holidays/New Year is teaching us not just the tactics of how to live our lives (halacha, morality, mitzvot) but also the strategy. There is a certain process and meaning that connects all the dots. Judaism is not just a circle, but it is an upwards spiral. When we come full circle, we are in the same place and at a higher level. We have grown throughout the previous year. We’ve had new experiences and challenges; as we’ve followed the mitzvot and commandments, we have gained a deeper understanding of how to navigate our lives. So why do we study the same Torah over and over again? Why do we recite the same prayers (read: affirmations) over and over again? Simple: Practice makes perfect. The very positive aspect of all this is that there is always a second chance. We need, however, to qualify this a bit. Everyone makes mistakes; that’s because we’re all human, we have imperfect bodies in general and nervous systems in particular. When we make a mistake, we do two things: we acknowledge the error, and then we take steps to correct it. That’s a very positive process. Remember—and this bears repeating—if we are flawed life forms, then we’re bound to mess up every now and then. It’s endemic. The whole purpose of life is to grow and evolve. If we didn’t, there’d be no need to exist. This is why in Judaism our concept of forgiveness is different that the common perception. Like our correcting an error, correcting sins is a similar process. It’s a tough process, and that’s why we have a three-week process. In order to be forgiven, we must first repent. This is why as in the weekly “Shemonah Esrei” or “Amidah”, the prayer for repentance comes before the prayer for forgiveness. In fact, the prayer asking for greater understanding and knowledge comes even before that. So first we have to understand that we did something not right, want to correct it, and then ask for a second chance. This is our “Circle of Life”. This is why pencils have erasers and word documents have back and delete buttons. Its also why I read over my sermons a few times and even the Rebbetzin to check me. As I do in all things in life. LOL The other concept of the “Circle of Life” is, of course, the circle. A circle has no end and no beginning. It goes on endlessly. But our “circle”, again, is a spiral. Our circle goes up and up and up. Our lives are constantly evolving to a better purpose because we value the commandments. Our lives get better because we have this yearly introspection, the original “New Year’s Resolution”. May this year bring you all prosperity and fulfillment and may you all be sealed in the Book of Life.

This year's 10-Minute Torah for Sukkot 5780: https://youtu.be/ElBPNZtS5kk SERVICES: We are planning a Saturday morning, Shabbat Shachrit for 9:30 am, 10/19/2019. Details to follow

Torah Readings for Sukkot

This week's 10-Minute Torah (10/12/2019) "Ha'azenu 5780": https://youtu.be/Empj9Fklveo This year's Yom Kippur Sermon (10/9/2019) "The Vidui - Confessional": https://www.modernrabbistephen.com/single-post/2019/10/10/Sermon-for-Yom-Kippur-5780-1092019-The-Vidui-Confessional Rebbetzin Chris and I would like to thank all those who joined us to celebrate the High Holidays this year. Thank you for you presence and participation. Please watch for upcoming Shabbat services.

Parashat Ha'azenu #ParashatHaazenu #TorahCommentary #DvarTorah

Yom Kippur Sermon We have transgressed, we have acted perfidiously, we have robbed, we have slandered. We have acted perversely and wickedly, we have willfully sinned, we have done violence, we have imputed falsely. We have given evil counsel, we have lied, we have scoffed, we have rebelled, we have provoked, we have been disobedient, we have committed iniquity, we have wantonly transgressed, we have oppressed, we have been obstinate. We have committed evil, we have acted perniciously, we have acted abominably, we have gone astray, we have led others astray. We have strayed from Your good precepts and ordinances, and it has not profited us. Indeed, You are just in all that has come upon us, for You have acted truthfully, and it is we who have acted wickedly. We are all familiar with the Vidui, the confessional, that we chant on Yom Kippur. We are acknowledging all our sins. It is meant to encompass anything we can do just to make sure we are covering all the bases. It is fitting that this week’s Torah portion is Ha’azinu, which is Moses’ last address to the Israelites. This is the generation born in the wilderness; a hearty people who will conquer the holy land and sanctify it to Hashem. They will be examples to the rest of the world how to act humanely to each other and all other peoples, with mercy and justice. But Ha’azinu, like we Jews, is written is a very precarious pattern. The wording is in the form of two pillars. As such, there is no support. Although pillars are good to hold up buildings, any slight movement or push in any direction and they lose their footing and the building comes crashing down. Just ask Sampson the judge. So it is with us, G-d’s chosen people. Hashem knows that when we’re at our best, we accomplish great things. When we forsake Torah, we bear the consequences, which can be severe. That’s part of being G-d’s chosen people: we’ve accepted the yoke of living righteous lives, so we’re held to a higher standard. The Vidui keeps us on track. It also keeps us humble. How many of us have read this during Yom Kippur and said, “Oh, no, that’s not me”! Yes, it is. This is our arrogance. It’s also our ego and our self-esteem. The two are very related. We grow up in a culture which at times can be very unforgiving. Many people are not understanding, and we make a mistake, we’ve vilified. That makes it very hard to admit our shortcomings. But G-d knows. One of the main lessons of Torah is that even though we go through life putting our best efforts towards accomplishing things and growing and making our lives better, it is ultimately up to Hashem. And while our efforts certainly help us get to our goals, very much like rowing a boat, it ultimately up to G-d to arrange our lives so that we have more successes than failures, and that we are rowing our boat with the current. Mitzvot and commandments are important. They keep us on track to do what is right, even when we don’t want to. That is the hardest part of observing the commandments. G-d tells us to honor Him by loving our neighbor as ourselves, being honest in our business dealings, and showing mercy and justice to our fellows, even when we don’t want to. In this portion, G-d reminds us that “Vengeance is Mine”. We just go along with commandments and don’t mind what else happens. That’s easier said than done. We always want to take vengeance, take revenge on those we believe have wronged us in some way. It’s our nature to want Justice and not wait for any karma. We want our retribution and we want it now! Each year we remind ourselves how flawed we are. No, we’re not attacking our self-esteem and admitting that we’re just pitiful little creatures with no hope of redemption. Think of the Vidui as a starting point. It’s our once-per-year year-end review. We take stock of what we’ve done. Not who we are, what we’ve done. There’s a big difference there. We’re taking stock of our actions. G-d knows we’re up to the task. That’s why He chose us to lead the way in this world. He wants us to show everyone how great our species can be and that when we set our minds to a task, when we evaluate what we do, we are always looking to do better. And we can. May you all be sealed in the book of life for a healthy, prosperous and fulfilling year. #YomKippurSermon #Vidui

Parashat Yom Kippur 5780 #ParashatYomKippur #DvarTorah #TorahCommentary

Parashat Vayelech #ParashatVayelech #DvarTorah #TorahCommentary