The Sukkah reminds us of the incredible journey of the Jews, which started in Egypt, and throughout the years was always with G-d's Divine protection. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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Five days after the intensity of Yom Kippur, Sukkos, the festival of joy and happiness, begins. This festival lasts eight days in Israel and nine days everywhere else. The Torah describes the festival as follows: …On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Sukkot, a seven-day period for God: On the first day shall be a sacred holyday when you shall not do any laborious work: On ...
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One of the best-known features of Yom Kippur -- sometimes the only thing people know about this day -- is the fact that we are forbidden to eat and drink. What is the meaning and purpose of these prohibitions on Yom Kippur? An anthropologist visiting a synagogue on Yom Kippur might think that since no one is eating or drinking for an entire 24-hour period, the congregants are all suffering terribly. ...
Read MoreWhatever issues you have, they can't continue, so the Jews have a "General Strike" View this video directly on Vimeo.
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Rabbi Becher's VLOG
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Hashem is Good – Believe It! – Parshat Nitzavim 5779/Rosh Hashanah 5780
G-d ultimately wants what is ultimately good for us, and it behooves us to remember this in our own personal prayers. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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According to Jewish tradition, before God created the first human being, a debate took place in the heavenly court. When the Holy One blessed Be He came to create man, the ministering angels formed into groups, some saying that man should be created, some saying that he should not be created…[the angel of] Kindness voted to create man, because people would perform acts of kindness,[the angel of] Peace voted not to ...
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Rabbi Becher's VLOG
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – The Didgeridoo and the Shofar – Parshat Ki Tavo 5779
The Australian Didgeridoo is a native Aboriginal instrument, and while Rabbi Mordechai Becher hails from Australia, he reminds us that now is the time for the ram's horn - a Shofar - and not for a Didgeridoo! View this video directly on Vimeo.
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What is the meaning of happiness? How do we achieve it? It appears from this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavoh, that happiness is a major value and indeed is looked at as a duty as well. The Torah tells us that one of the reasons for G-d punishing the Jewish people was that they did not serve Him with the appropriate amount of joy, Simcha. How do we understand Simcha? There ...
Read MoreRabbi Mordechai Becher's youngest child moved out of the house, leaving behind a very quiet home. Before insanity sets in, Rabbi Becher reflects on how rare it is to have silence in our lives, and how wonderful it is when the noises do finally quiet down. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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As we approach Rosh Hashana and anticipate the blowing of the shofar during prayers, I would like to present five different shofar soundings from our history. The sixth will be, G-d willing, the shofar that heralds the redemption and the Mashiach. Shofar During the Inquisition - Sefer HaTodaah, Rosh Hashanah, Eliyahu KiTov Ferdinand and Isabella, King and Queen of Spain, expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492. It was the ...
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