THOUGHTS ON TISHA B’AV Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Tisha b’Av 5782 This essay is sponsored by Marlene & Armand Lerner in memory of David Evan Hirsch Z”L. Setting the mournful mood Rabbinic Judaism stresses the obligation of every Jew personally to mourn the long-ago destruction of the Holy...
THOUGHTS ON THE FAST OF 17 TAMMUZ Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com 17 Tammuz 5782 Fasting for the Korban Tamid During the Babylonian captivity (586-515 BCE), Jewish exiles commemorated the destruction of the Holy Temple and the First Commonwealth with a series of four fasts. We cannot be certain...
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Hukat – פרשת חקת July 9, 2022 – י תמוז תשפב This essay is sponsored by Betsy Schrott in memory of Eileen Schrott Z”L; by Suzy Levin in memory of Yehonatan ben Yosef David v’Shirah Z”L; and by Lawrence & Doina Bryskin.
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Emor – פרשת אמר May 14, 2022 – יג אייר תשפב The Origins of the Minyan Jewish law mandates that a quorum be present for the public liturgy to be conducted fully and properly. The quorum, known colloquially and in the post-Talmudic halakhic...
THOUGHTS ON PASSOVER Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Passover 5782 This essay is dedicated in honor of AnnBeth Cohen. The Model Seder in Tradition and History In November 1936, during a lull in the Arab Revolt, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion testified before the Peel Commission about the...
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Tazria – פרשת תזריע April 2, 2022 – ראש חדש ניסן תשפב This essay is sponsored by David Goldstein. Burdening the congregation This year, Rosh Chodesh Nisan falls on the Sabbath. To mark the occasion, three Torah scrolls will be taken from...