Who Was Leonard Bernstein? Originally published December 28-29, 2018.
The 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein was August 25, 2018. We think him worthy of mention. Mr. Bernstein was a composer, conductor, pianist, writer, teacher, ambassador, and humanitarian - all with a genuine passion, boundless talent, and skills rare throughout history. He was born in Lawrence, Mass., and we lost him on […]
What is Hazak, Hazak, Venithazzek? Originally published December 21-22, 2019.
As we end the reading of each book of the Torah - Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bemidbar, and Devarim or Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy - it is customary to say, “Hazak, Hazak, Venithazzek,” which some say means “be strong, be strong, let us be strengthened.” As the Torah reader concludes the final words of […]
Who Was Nelly Sachs? Originally published December 14-15, 2018.
What would we do without Google, which reminded us to remember Nelly Sachs? Born December 10, 1891, in Schöneberg, Berlin, Germany, Nelly Sachs was a poet who went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1966) and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. Nelly Sachs was named Leonie by her parents, Georg […]
What Is Gelilah? And Whom Does the Gelilah Hug? Originally published December 7-8, 2018.
As we noted last week, this Shabbat is a day of a lot of gelilah, one of only a few in the year! Gelilah גְלִילָה is not the person honored with binding, dressing, etc., a Sefer Torah; it is the practice of doing all that. But colloquially some have come to use the term for […]
How Many Torah Scrolls Do We Use Next Week? Originally published November 30 - December 1, 2018.
If you’ve always wanted the honor of gelilah, next week is a good opportunity! Next Shabbat is Rosh Hodesh Tevet, coinciding as it often does with Shabbat Hanukkah, one of the few days of the year when we use three Torah scrolls - three sifrei Torah. The parashah next week will be Mikkets, pronounced to […]