It is customary to add a Psalm to our prayers during the month preceding Rosh Hashanah. The Psalm is Chapter 27 and is one of most beautiful prayers in the book of Psalms. “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, my enemies and my adversaries, ...
Read MoreRabbi Mordechai Becher wishes everyone a Good and Sweet New Year! View this video directly on VIMEO
Read MoreRabbi Mordechai Becher reminds us that the Torah is not for one specific type of Jew. Whether that Jew is a gardener wearing a MICHIGAN hat or a Kollel Student celebrating the completion of a mesechta of gemora, the Torah is equally for ALL Jews. View this video directly on VIMEO
Read More
It’s the season for repentance, so a few words about a Jew who returned to Judaism. Sir Waldemar Mordechai Wolff Haffkine (1860 – 1930) worked with Louis Pasteur and was the leading pioneer of vaccinations in India. In fact, in Mumbai today there still exists the Haffkine Institute for vaccine research. Late in his life, Haffkine become a deeply religious man. He returned to the observance of the mitzvos and ...
Read MoreThe Torah tells us to be happy. Rabbi Becher tells us what to do when unhappy things are surrounding us. View this video directly on VIMEO
Read More
I just returned from taking my car for an oil change and safety inspection. We do not only regularly inspect our cars, but, as someone who frequently flies, I happen to know (and am very happy that) the FAA inspects every plane on a regular basis. We do inspections all the time; cars, airplanes, fire detectors and computers. All our transportation methods and many other complex technologies get inspected regularly. One ...
Read More
As the baal tokeah for Gateways on Rosh Hashanah I bought a new shofar two years ago. It had caught my eye at the Judaica store: it was not polished beautifully, it had a rustic, earthy look to it, but it had a beautiful sound. I removed the numerous layers of price stickers and found underneath a certification from the Beit Din of Gush Katif. This shofar, a reminder of ...
Read More
We are just beginning the month of Ellul, the month of preparation for the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana and also for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is customary for Ashkenazim (Jews of European origin) to blow the shofar every day of the month of Ellul at synagogue after the morning service. Sephardic Jews (of Middle Eastern and North African origin) begin special prayers known as Selichot, at ...
Read More
During the Covid-19 pandemic I have been washing my hands every more than normal. As an observant Jew even in normal times I am constantly washing my hands. When we wake up in the morning, we wash our hands by taking a cup and pouring water over each hand three times. Before we eat bread we wash our hands in a similar manner and say a blessing. Before we pray ...
Read More
We are at the end of the three week period of mourning for the destruction of both the first and second Temples and, in general, for all the tragedies of the exile and dispersion of the Jewish people. What terrible sins led to the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Jewish people? If we understand the fundamental flaws that precipitated these events, we can begin to take ...
Read More