Insights from Reverend Hazan Benlolo

The week’s Torah reading recounts how Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, took a zealous stand to stop a plague among the Israelites by killing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were publicly defying God’s commands. This act of zealotry earned him a covenant of peace and the priesthood for his descendants.

In modern times, this parashah can be...Read more...

The Torah portion of Chukat contains several elements, including the laws of the red heifer (para aduma), the death of Miriam, the sin of Moses and Aaron at the waters of Meribah, and the defeat of various enemies. Each of these can be seen as relevant to contemporary life and the future of the Jewish people.

This ritual of purification from contact with death is a...Read more...

The Torah portion "Shelach Lecha" describes the episode of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. Ten of the spies return with a negative report, causing the Israelites to lose faith and leading to their wandering in the desert for forty years. This portion emphasizes themes of faith, trust, and the consequences of fear and lack of unity.

Read more...

The Ten Commandments, or "Aseret HaDibrot," are a cornerstone of Jewish religious and ethical life, encapsulating essential principles that guide the behavior and beliefs of Jewish individuals. Given to Moses on Mount Sinai, these commandments form the foundation of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, outlining a framework for a just and holy society.

Read more...

This past Wednesday marked an extraordinary chapter in the history of our community, a night that will be remembered for years to come. Under the visionary guidance of many that came before us, our community came together in a remarkable display of camaraderie and unity for a common cause. It was an evening where the power of Torah study, the backbone of any Jewish community, was celebrated and...Read more...

This past Tuesday morning, on May 14, 2024, an extraordinary celebration unfolded as 10,000 individuals, both Jewish community members and their allies, gathered to mark the 76th anniversary of Israel's Independence Day. The scene was nothing short of breathtaking. The air buzzed with a palpable sense of excitement and unity as people from all walks of life came together to honor this significant milestone.

Read more...

Parashat Acharei Mot outlines the rituals performed by the High Priest on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur is a day of introspection, repentance, and atonement, where individuals seek forgiveness for their sins and strive for spiritual renewal.

The parasha describes how the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary of the...Read more...

This week we celebrate Shabbat HaGadol, the "Great Shabbat," it is the Shabbat immediately preceding Passover. It's significant because it commemorates the Israelites' preparation for the Exodus from Egypt. According to tradition, on this Shabbat, the Israelites took the Paschal lamb, a central element of the Passover sacrifice, in defiance of their Egyptian taskmasters, who revered the lamb as a deity. This act of...Read more...

Passover commemorates the Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom, marking a significant transformation in their status and identity. Similarly, the rituals outlined in Tazria involve processes of purification and renewal, particularly after childbirth or when dealing with skin diseases. These rituals signify a transition from a state of impurity to one of purity, symbolizing renewal and transformation.

Read more...

While there are commonalities in how Passover is celebrated across different Jewish communities, there are also variations in traditions and customs. Here are some differences between Moroccan, Iraqi, Lebanese, and Ashkenazi Jews during Passover:

Moroccan Jews have unique customs and rituals that add a distinctive flavor to their Passover observance. For example, they often...Read more...

As Jewish communities around the world prepare to celebrate the holiday of Purim, the joyous occasion is often overshadowed by the looming specter of antisemitism. In recent times, there has been a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents, ranging from hate speech and vandalism to violent attacks targeting Jews. Against this backdrop, the age-old question resurfaces: should one fast on Purim...Read more...

À première vue, les histoires talmudiques semblent souvent n'être que cela - des tranches de vie d'il y a longtemps. Mais si le Talmud est considéré comme un livre étroitement édité dans lequel les mots et les images sont soigneusement choisis, le mot supplémentaire utilisé dans une telle histoire choisie pour la représentation peut être déchiffré pour exposer des messages qui vont au-delà du sens...Read more...

Do we really need a sanctuary?  Does G-d need a home in this physical world?  Isn’t G-d everywhere?  Isn’t G-d Omnipresent?

The basic understanding of Judaism is that G d is everywhere.  In this week’s Torah reading, G-d asks the people of Israel: “Ve’asu Li Mikdash VeShachanti Betocham” (to build a Sanctuary where G-d can inhabit).  The...Read more...

This week I would like to try something new and innovative. Rather than share my thoughts on this week's Parasha, I would like to open the door for discussion. Going forward, three questions in our Shabbat newsletter will be posed and this will allow us to discover in depth the hidden meanings of the weekly Parasha.

First a brief summary of Parashat Yitro. Hearing about the...Read more...

La Parasha Bo offre une perspective profonde sur la libération du peuple juif de l'esclavage égyptien, un récit qui peut résonner particulièrement fort en temps de guerre. Dans cette Parasha, les Israélites sont sur le point de quitter l'Égypte après l'impact dévastateur de plusieurs plaies.

L'idée centrale est celle de la libération, non seulement physique mais aussi...Read more...