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Rabbi Weill's Blog

A High Holy Day Letter, Parent to Child

09/04/2015 11:42:45 AM

Sep4

Rabbi Weill

Dear Friends:

This touching letter was written by Rabbi Natan to his son Isaac, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur in 5591,185 years ago. Rabbi Natan was a disciple of Rabbi Nachman, the founder of Bratzlaver Hasidism.

    To my beloved son, Rabbi Isaac, may his light shine bright:

    I have this hour received your letter and there is no time to reply to it as it deserves. May...Read more...

Shofar Blower

09/01/2015 11:40:59 AM

Sep1

Rabbi Weill

Dear Friends:

As the High Holy Days approached, the congregation needed a shofar blower. The rabbi rushed off an email to the congregation: Shofar Blower Needed! Tryouts: Monday, 5 pm.”  She had no idea if anyone would come at such short notice. But three congregants were waiting in the sanctuary at the appointed time.  The rabbi sat in the first row and said, “Please give me one tekiah gedolah and an explanation as to...Read more...

Who's Your Brother?

08/13/2015 12:03:44 PM

Aug13

Rabbi Weill

Dear Friends,

"Do not harden your heart or shut your hand," we read in Re'eh, this week's Torah portion, "against your brother."


It's a holy injunction to help one's brother, but we need to define our terms. Who is, after all, "your brother"? According to our tradition, what does "brother" ("ach" in Hebrew) refer to? Is it one's literal sibling, or could it be someone more remote? Does it refer to another Jew, or could...Read more...

Living the Luach

07/07/2015 12:05:22 PM

Jul7

Rabbi Weill

Dear Friends,

We are in the midst of the "Three Weeks" between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, or Tisha b'Av. This period represents the intensifying siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE, culminating with the destruction of the Second Temple. The ninth of Av is the anniversary of other calamities in Jewish history, including the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE and the signing of the edict of our expulsion...Read more...

Donkey Wisdom

07/02/2015 12:05:20 PM

Jul2

Rabbi Weill

Dear Friends:

Humans may be the crown of creation, but time and again we are put in our place. We thought our planet was the center of the universe; it is not. We then assumed the sun revolved around the Earth; it does not. And yes, we are smart, but we're merely the latest pinacle in an ongoing process of evolution.

Debunked!  Our origins are humble; our place in the universe unimpressive.

This week's Torah...Read more...

Water...

06/25/2015 12:05:18 PM

Jun25

Rabbi Weill

Dear Friends:

Water is prominent throughout this week's Torah portion, Chukat, which suits this rainy week. The portion includes the red heifer, the ashes of which are mixed with water to achieve purification for contaminated Israelites. The death of Miriam then marks the end of "Miriam's Well," which provided the nation with water during their desert wanderings. And when the people complain about a lack...Read more...

Thu, November 6 2025 15 Cheshvan 5786