This coming Shabbat, we begin reading the third book of the Torah, VAYIKRA: “The Eternal One called to Moses…” VAYIKRA is the name of both the complete third book, and its first portion we read on this Shabbat. The third book of the Torah is also known by its Greek...
On March 1, 2022, artillery shells fired by the Russian Army in Ukraine fell in and near Babi Yar, the Holocaust’s largest mass grave. On September 29-30, 1941, led by the SS commanders, a large number of Einsatzgruppen, Wehrmacht and German police units as well as Ukrainian collaborators combined to...
In this week’s Torah portion Vayekhel, Moses invites all whose heart moves them to help with the building of the sanctuary. “and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them, came and brought an offering to the Eternal for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its...
Dear KI Congregants, Early in 2020, we determined that the national rise in anti-Semitism and hate crimes demanded an increase in our security measures. To protect our school children, staff, members and guests, the Board of Directors voted to engage armed security officers whenever our building was open. At that time...
Ukraine is in the news. Daily reports pour in about the buildup of Russian troops, as many as 130, 000, to the north, east and south of the country. Diplomatic activity is also escalating but without a clear path to resolving the situation. NATO is on alert. Ukrainian civilians are...
The Parashah of T’tzaveh is directed at both a settled and evolving community of Jews. The sidrah contains very detailed instructions presented by G-d to be transmitted by Moses to the Jewish people. There are several passages in this portion that are meaningful to our religious lives and patterns of...
Every so often a congregant questions how we decide on the issues we support. We recognize that this important question deserves a considered response. Our committee was established in 2016, and shortly thereafter we decided that we would support positions taken by the Religious Action Center (RAC) which for more...
The Purim Story is a new Megillah retold and introduced by Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D., Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (KI) in Elkins Park, PA published by Tablo Press (2021). Written for use at home or in the synagogue, The Purim Story features new, original artwork by Marlene D’Orazio Adler. Written as a...
There is a verse in this week’s Torah portion that resonates with our community and me. This week’s Torah portion is really the instruction manual for the building of our sanctuary, and in the middle of all of these details is this spiritual line: And let them make me a...
“And These Are the Laws…,” The Revelation at Sinai Continues, The Ten Commandments at KI, and Live Long and Prosper! This week, we continue to experience G-d’s ongoing revelation to the Jewish people, through His servant, Moses our Teacher. After the awesome drama of the giving of the Ten Commandments to...
