This week’s portion is a continuation of last week’s and speaks of the purification process of someone who had been afflicted with Tzoraas ― a spiritual malaise that is manifest through a physical blemish or discoloration which indicates that the person was lax in the area of speaking Lashon Hara, ill of another. To remain …
Category: 5782
Mar 31
Won’t Start!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
The Mitzvah of Bris Mila – circumcision – is mentioned in this week’s Parsha. Bris Mila is similar to a sacrifice in certain ways. A bris creates a wound which is forbidden to make on Shabbos, however, when the eighth day falls on Shabbos it is permitted, just as sacrifices were offered in the Temple …
Mar 24
Holy!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
Holiness; being holy and making things holy is an integral part of Judaism. A mere journey through our daily prayers bring us quite often to the word Kodosh – holy – in various forms. Kodosh takes a central role when we exclaim Kodosh, Kodosh, Kodosh to G-d, as we describe how the angels praise G-d …
Mar 16
Ask!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
Purim is a most festive holiday. It particularly resonates with us since it occurred at a time when the Jews had been exiled from Israel and the Temple had been destroyed. As the story of the Megilla unfolds, we see G-d closely watching over us and bringing us an unbelievable salvation. The events of Purim …
Mar 10
Who Is It!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
The festive spirit of the holiday of Purim is in the air! On the Shabbos preceding Purim, an additional Torah scroll is removed from the ark. For the Maftir Aliyah, we read the portion where G-d instructs us to blot out the remembrance of the hateful and disgraceful nation of Amalek. This important reading is …
Mar 03
Two!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Shemos
The Torah tells us that after all the articles, vessels and components of the Mishkan/Temple were completed, the artisans brought them all to Moshe for inspection. The obvious question is, why did Moshe burden them to bring the many heavy articles to him? Wouldn’t it have been easier for Moshe to go himself and check …
Feb 24
Work!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Shemos
During creation of the world, G-d sanctified the seventh day as the holy day of Shabbos. Years later, after our freedom from Egypt, G-d chose us, the Jewish nation, to be privileged to serve Him by observing Shabbos which reflects on the sanctity that G-d infused in the holy day! The Torah, in our portion, …
Feb 16
27 Years!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Shemos
Avi Epstein, our six year old grandson, enjoys playing soccer with his friends during recess at school. For a while, a boy was intentionally disrupting the game, and there seemed no effective way of stopping him from doing so. A few days went by and my daughter Gitty asked Avi how the soccer games were …
Feb 10
Public vs. Private!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Shemos
In the Parsha, the Torah instructs the Kohanim/Priests to kindle the Menorah in the Temple every afternoon, and to clean out the residue of the lamps in the morning. These two services had to coincide with the twice daily incense offering on the incense Altar that was located inside the Temple building. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein …
Feb 02
True Heroes!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Shemos
Last week’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day generated a heightened sensitivity to the inhumane treatment and the systematic murder of our brethren by the Nazis. I was recently talking with my friend Mr. Chesky Schoenberger and he told me the following story. Chesky cared for the needs of an elderly Chassidic rabbi, Reb Mecha’le Mechlowitz, the …
Jewish Heritage Connection
Rabbi Dovid Saks, Director
601 Jefferson Ave.
Scranton, PA 18510
(570) 346-1321
Shabbat Candle Lighting Time
Shabbat Times for May 10, 2024
Scranton, PA US
Parshas Kedoshim
Candle Lighting Time: 7:52 PM
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Scranton, PA US
Parshas Kedoshim
Candle Lighting Time: 7:52 PM
Developed by AdatoSystems.com.
Key features by Hebcal.com.