The westernmost member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Jewish History
A Famous Jew You Never Knew
January 13, 2021
Waldemar Mordechai Haffkine
BBC via Dina Yoshimi
For those who are winding down for the semester, and those who just enjoy an interesting read:
Here’s a piece from the BBC about… Continue reading
Thoughts
From Les Rosenthal
You may think that you are completely insignificant in this world. But someone drinks coffee from the favorite cup that you gave them. Someone heard a song on the radio that reminded them of you. Someone read… Continue reading
Gregor Mendel and Parshah Vayetze
A Drash by David Haymer
First, to echo comments made by Dan Bender and others, let me begin by saying that this Parshah is packed with dramatic events. In this one Parshah, we learn about (not in order): Jacob figuring… Continue reading
Sof Hanukkah 2020
A Small Hanukkah Miracle
By Mathew Sgan
Last year I had an almost full package of Hanukkah candles left over. I planned to use them for this year’s lighting ceremonies. Alas, on the fifth day, I started to worry that… Continue reading
Sof Holiday Recipes
Island Latke Recipe
By Hefcibah Martin
One bag Alexia Yukon hash browns
One finely chopped onion
One teaspoon salt
1/4 cup All-purpose flour
1/2 cup Panko
Three eggs beaten.
Fry in oil.
Cranberry sauce
One bag fresh cranberries
One… Continue reading
IllumiNation
On Thursday, December 17th, IllumiNation, a one-hour program spearheaded by Rabbi David Booth of Congregation Kol Emet in Palo Alto celebrated the 8th night of Chanukah in a nationwide, virtual celebration. Rabbi Booth is the nephew of Avi Soifer and… Continue reading
Dualities: Vayishlach Drash
By Fran Margulies
Jacob/Israel, one of our founding fathers, comes to us out of our mythic past. I say “mythic” because I think his story fits the dictionary definition of myth as “an ancient story of an ancestral hero who… Continue reading
Torah and Taro
Torah and Taro
January 12, 2021
A Book Review by Sid Goldstein
Mat Sgan’s third book, Torah and Taro, is an informative history of the Jewish contributions to the Hawaiian Islands. The book examines the impact that the… Continue reading
Sof Drash Archive
Vayera: Inquiry or Seeking
November 29, 2020
A Drash by Carolann Biederman
My drash is dedicated to the enthusiastic members of our Sof Book Group, who offer insights, inspiration, opinions, reflections and their personal stories, related to the discussion of… Continue reading
From My Jewish Learning
Where Did the Dreidel Game Come from?
January 10, 2021
Reprinted with permission from My Jewish Learning
The dreidel or sevivon is perhaps the most famous custom associated with Hanukkah. Indeed, various rabbis have tried to find an integral connection… Continue reading
- The Royal Road to Relational SpiritualityThis is a 10 session course taught in 2019. Click here to purchase full course recordings. Click here for a free download of first session. Derekh HaMelekh— “The Royal Road”—is a collection of Shabbat and holiday teachings by Reb Kalanymous Kalman Shapira, who was the “Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto” as well as a major […]
- Rising Above Isolation: The Piaseczner Rebbe’s Shavuot Torah of ConnectionDates and Times: Tuesdays – May 12, May 19, May 267 – 8 pm EST Cost: Pay-what-you-can Presenter: Rabbi Dr. Natan Margalit Description: We’ll learn together an amazing Shavuot Torah by Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Shapiro, the Piaseczner Rebbe, also known for being the Hasidic Rebbe in the Warsaw Ghetto during the horrific years of the Holocaust. In this Torah he explores […]
- TikTok’s comic ‘Jew Who Loves Trees’ wants you to take Tu b’Shvat very, very seriouslyWith his arboreal humor and rapid-fire delivery, Tobin Mitnick has become one of the viral video platform's most famous Jews. The post TikTok’s comic ‘Jew Who Loves Trees’ wants you to take Tu b’Shvat very, very seriously appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
- Antwerp mayor says haredi Orthodox ignoring COVID measures has triggered anti-Semitism — and it could get worseBart de Wever, who has had good relations with the community, was commenting on the closure of a synagogue where protocol was twice ignored. The post Antwerp mayor says haredi Orthodox ignoring COVID measures has triggered anti-Semitism — and it could get worse appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.