The Ruach}
Read the current issue of our bulletin

Gan Ilan Preschool}
Early childhood education

Become a Member}

Calendar}

Volunteer}

Photo Gallery}

Parashat Vaetchanan: Deut. 3:23 - 7:11

In this week’s portion lie the six words we Jews pray with special ceremony, with heightened awareness, with deepened intention:   

Sh’ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheynu Adnonai Echad
Hear, O Israel! The Eternal is our God, the Eternal alone.

Over the centuries the combination of these particular six words has become for the Jewish people our watchword, our creed, our heartfelt testimony to God and to each other. With the Sh’ma we declare we will maintain forever our Covenant with the Holy One of Israel. 
In his exploration of the meaning of this verse, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner separates and translates the words in this manner:

SHEMA: Pay attention,
YISRAEL: You who struggle with God.
ADONAI: Being in all its variegated forms is
ELOHAYNU: Our God and
ADONAI: … Read More >

Parashat Devarim: Deut. 1:1-3:22

This week as we start the Book of Deuteronomy the Israelites are at a pivotal moment in their journey. Standing in the plains of Moab in the lower Jordan valley, the Israelites are preparing to enter the Promised Land. Moses begins his farewell speech by reminding the Israelites of two events that occurred on their journey: the Israelites’ exultation at receiving the commandments at Sinai and the Israelites’ fear and resistance after hearing the reports of the spies. Dr. Elsie Stern explains that these two events “become emblematic of the choice that confronts the Israelites: obey God and prosper in the Promised Land or disobey and be condemned to wandering circuitously outside the land.” On their forty year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land the Israelites were given instructions and guidance, but often acted cowardly. Their lack of faith in God led to a whole generation not being allowed … Read More >

Parashat Mattot-Masei: Num. 30:2-36:13; 28:9-15

What do we do with the parts of the Torah that disturb us, that shock us, that push us to want to close the holy book in sheer disgust? For me, such a passage occurs in this week’s portion.  The Israelites are camped on the east side of the Jordan, preparing to enter the Land of Israel and bring their 40-year trek to an end.  But first God commands Moses:  “Avenge the Israelites people on the Midianites; then you shall be gathered to your kin.”  (Num. 31:2)
Will Moses’ last earthly action be his leadership in a military battle of vengeance?  True, a few chapters back the Midianite women lured some Israelite men away from the community and into sexual depravity and idolatry.  In punishment, the perpetrators and their victims died in a horrible plague sent by God.  Why must more revenge be taken?  When Moses hears God’s … Read More >

Parashat Pinchas: Num. 25:10 - 30:1

The Torah portion this Shabbat is named after a character whose story was told at the end of last week’s portion.  In a way Pinchas, the fanatic, is left hanging alone for a week before we are told the story’s end. Though his deed is rewarded, the sages take some time to look at how the Torah portions are divided in order to understand how our tradition rates an extremist.
In most years, when Torah portions are joined, Balak and Chukat are read together, and Mattot and Mase are also joined, but this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, is never joined, it stands alone. May this be an intentional illustration of the wisdom of leaving a zealot alone for a while so that no one would rush to join him? One should be aware of the means extremists are willing to use to achieve their ends and understand what the … Read More >

Parashat Balak: Num. 22:2 - 25:9

In this week’s parasha, the prophet Balaam calls out the well-known verse “Mah tovu ohalekha Yaakov, mishk’notecha, Yisrael -How wonderful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel.” (Numbers 24:5) Balak, King of Moab, sees the great size and might of the Israelites and sends Balaam to curse them.  With this curse he hopes to easily defeat them as he says, “For I know that he whom you bless is blessed indeed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” (Numbers 22:6) However, when Balaam arrives at the Israelites’ tents, God open’s his eyes. Balak had only seen their size and was fearful of being attacked. Similarly Balaam had limited vision and was unaware of the entire picture.Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell explains, “Only when the Holy One open’s his eyes can Balaam…[see] the tents that are the homes and the gathering places of the women, children and men who live … Read More >

Parashat Chukkat: Num. 19:1 - 22:1

Last week I spent a few days at a spiritual retreat in the desert landscape of my birthplace, Arizona.  If I got up early enough, just at daybreak, I could hike into the canyons of the Sonora desert and watch the drama of the landscape unfold before the heat of the day drove me indoors.  The rocky soil somehow sustained thousands of saguaro cacti, still in bloom, their flowers visited by cactus wrens, hummingbirds and rumbling bees.  Looking down and keeping watch for rattlers, I saw desert quail, lizards large and small, and myriad insects pursuing their determined trek through the dusty trails.
And not a drop of water.  There was no moisture in the air or visible on the ground.  Within minutes my lips were parched and my hands reached for the water bottle at my side as I heeded the warnings of every trailhead sign:  “Do not … Read More >

Parashat Korach: Num. 16:1-18:32, 28:9-15

It seems to be a common practice these days to play on people’s fears. Appealing to our most base emotions seems to be a great vote getter.  It is nothing new. Already in the Torah, in this week’s portion, Korach, we find an example of this. The portion starts with a rebellion against Moses by Korach and his henchmen. It is an unholy alliance which claims that “all the people are holy,” and therefore entitled to have a say on the journey. The medieval commentator Rashi explains that Korach, the demagogue, used beguiling oratory to seduce the people. The question is, how could the children of Israel, who had experienced the parting of the sea and witnessed the revelation at Sinai fall into Korach’s trap?
Nachmanides, another commentator, believes that at any other time the people would have stoned the person who dared question Moses’ authority. But Korach’s uprising … Read More >

Parashat Shelach: Num. 13:1 - 15:41 A Response to the Flotilla Confrontation

“Blockade of Gaza at the heart of crisis” screamed the headline.

As much as I dislike the blockade, it is not at the heart of the crisis.  The heart of the crisis continues to be a Hamas ruled Gaza that has as its charter the destruction of the Jewish State.  It is this that brought the blockade about.  An attempt by Israel to limit the weapons brought to Gaza from its erstwhile allies, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran; an attempt by Israel to limit the number of rockets fired indiscriminately into Israel from launchers hidden in civilian centers; an attempt by Israel to pressure Hamas to free Gilad Shalit, kidnapped from inside Israel by Hamas forces -now in captivity for almost four years.  The heart of the crisis is not the blockade, neither is it the occupation.  Though I am critical of them both, let us not fool … Read More >