Author Archives: dweiss

Behar/Behukotai: Our Wake-up Call Ms. Amy Pincus Torah and Tefillah Specialist/Middle School Judaic Studies Teacher apincus@grossschechter.org   This week’s Torah reading is a double portion including Behar and Bechukotai, which are the final two sidrot of Vayikra. It is common … Continue reading →

 Parshat Emor: The Fruits of Our Labor Daniel R. Weiss Middle School Judaic Studies Principal/K-8 Judaic Program Coordinator dweiss@grossschechter.org Last week, as I sat in shul at Shira Chadasha in Jerusalem, we read Parshat Emor.  This week as I sit … Continue reading →

Sin or Sign? Tazria Metzora Rabbi Jim Rogozen Headmaster Rogozen@grossschechter.org One of those things you learn in Rabbinical School is “the more Midrash, the more difficult the text.” In other words, the Rabbis of the first few centuries found some … Continue reading →

 Parshat Tzav – Connections to the Hunger Games Daniel R. Weiss Middle School Judaic Studies Principal/K-8 Judaic Program Coordinator  dweiss@grossschechter.org This past weekend’s movie release of Hunger Games made me think of this week’s Parsha.  Though I have not yet … Continue reading →

Vayikra Ms. Holly Litwin Middle School Tanakh Teacher hlitwin@grossschechter.org   This week’s Torah portion of Vayikra is the beginning of the book of Leviticus with its details about the five different kinds of sacrifices brought in the tabernacle by the … Continue reading →

Vayakhel-Pekudei: Our Crowning Achievement Daniel R. Weiss Middle School Judaic Studies Principal/K-8 Judaic Program Coordinator dweiss@grossschechter.org   This week we read the double portion of Vayakhel-Pekudei, completing the book of Shemot (Exodus).  Over the course of the past month, our … Continue reading →

 Parashat Kee Tisa – Elevating One Another Through Kehilla Rabbi Jim Rogozen Headmaster rogozen@grossschechter.org While we can learn a lot from the big, dramatic events of the Bible, we can also learn something from what occurs immediately following those big … Continue reading →

Parshat Tezaveh: I Want to be a Kohen Too Daniel R. Weiss Middle School Judaic Studies Principal/K-8 Judaic Program Coordinator dweiss@grossschechter.org   A man once went to his rabbi and demanded that the rabbi make him a Kohen.  The rabbi … Continue reading →

Parashat Trumah – Where is Today’s Mishkan? Rabbi Jim Rogozen Headmaster Rogozen@grossschechter.org This week’s parasha begins a very long description of the building of the Mishkan, a portable “tabernacle” or place of worship, which the Israelites transported on their journeys … Continue reading →

 Parshat Mishpatim Thought, Speech and Action Daniel R. Weiss Middle School Judaic Studies Principal/K-8 Judaic Program Coordinator dweiss@grossschechter.org In last week’s Parsha, Yitro, we read that God gave the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people.  Much has been written about … Continue reading →