First of all, our Hanukat HaBayit was a wonderful event. Fifty plus folks celebrated the opening of the new Am Kolel Judaic Resource Center in Rockville. Many of us have not seen each other in years. The new Center represents the newest chapter in Am Kolel’s history serving the community. In addition to a hamish davenning space, we house the Rae Alice and Bernard Cohen Library of some 2000 volumes. We’re very grateful to librarians Susan Freiband, Ellen Sher and volunteers for setting it up. Most of the art in the house is art created by local Jewish artists and the room has been designated as a rotating gallery. We hope the new Center will be a place of meeting and learning for the artists and others. Several old timers from the Jewish Folk Arts Festival were present including Avrum Ashery, Nessa Spitzer and Danny Siegel, the poet. Theo Stone and Frank Sparber, of the Fabrangen Fiddlers, Rosana Azar and Janeane Marks lead singing.
Read MoreThe Parsha this week, Kedoshim, comes to us at a critical time. Kedoshim Tih’yu, “…you shall be holy…” is at the heart of the Torah, the center of the scroll in actual literary placement and at the center of Jewish life in spirit and action. The first 18 verses of chapter 19 zero in on the essence of what it means to become a conscious or holy community. Many of the verses mirror the Ten Commandments. But the order and the emphasis is different.
Read MoreThere is a terrible spiritual malaise afflicting our country. News of racism, gun violence, and human suffering is increasing. This is a spring of great struggle and, also, one of great opportunity.
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