Shabbat Message July 17, 2020 – Parashat Mattot-Masei

Click HERE for a sermon entitled Moses’ Message for Diaspora Jews. This D’var Torah is inspired by the leadership of Moses and the responsibility that the Tribes of Reuben and Gad took for their family when they wanted to live outside the Promised Land.

Click HERE for a self-guided study: A Look At Moses’ Diary: Both Journeys & Destinations Are Holy. This week we finish reading the Book of Numbers, and the encampments of the wilderness are listed. What message does that hold for our lives?

Click HERE for a video teaching and chanting: Yedid Nefesh “The Beloved of My Soul” including a look at the original manuscript of the poem from the JTS Rare Book Room. Chant along after a brief historical survey of this moving liturgy – which may not have been intended for the Siddur at all when Elazar Azikri wrote it most likely in 1568 in Tzfat. Click HERE for PDF of Yedid Nefesh from the Koren Sacks Siddur, which has the original version as it appears in the manuscript in the JTS Library

Let me call your attention to a wonderful Jewish Film Festival that can be streamed. You can purchase a pass or individual tickets. The North American premiere of Asia (featuring Shira Haas of Shtisel) is Sunday. Asia is a 2020 Israeli drama film directed by Ruthy Pribar, starring Alena Yiv and Shira Haas. The film was premiered online at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the awards for Best Actress, Best Cinematography as well as the Nora Ephron Prize. Amy and I are “attending,” and if anyone wants to discuss the film after watching let me know! Glad to connect.