Shalom Rav Blog

Rabbi’s Reflections 10-15-2021

Posted on October 15, 2021
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Rabbi’s Reflections thoughts, writings, and photographs by your rabbi   This week I was honored to perform a funeral for one of our member’s mothers. I got a lot of compliments on the eulogy I wrote from her family and friends so I thought I would share it with you all.           Judith Beth Continue Reading »

Ten Jewish Teachings on Judaism and the Environment Lecture 1 1-5-2017

Posted on January 25, 2017
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This series will present what Rabbi Troster consider ten of the most important Jewish ideas that connect with modern environmentalism. This first lecture is an introduction to the concepts of the environment, what it means to be an environmentalist and the history of the Jewish environmental movement

STUDY MATERIAL FOR PARSHAT VA-YIGASH Genesis 44:18-47:27, January 7, 2017

Posted on January 13, 2017
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In this Torah study, we looked at the character of Judah as revealed by his speech to Joseph at the beginning of the parsha. How has Judah changed from the jealous brother who stood coldly aside as Joseph was sold into slavery and watched his father react with horror at what appeared to be Joseph’s Continue Reading »

From Big Bang to Omega Point Jewish Responses to Recent Theories in Modern Cosmology Conservative Judaism, Vol. 49 No. 4, 1997

Posted on January 2, 2017
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This is a review essay of three books in which the authors discussed a Jewish response to the Big Bang Theory and other recent theories in modern cosmology. The article also survey earlier Jewish writing on the Big Bang and is one of my more thorough attempts to understand the relationship between science and religion. Continue Reading »

STUDY MATERIAL FOR PARSHAT MIKETZ SHABBAT HANUKKAH December 31, 2016

Posted on January 2, 2017
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On this Shabbat of Hanukkah, the material is about the book of Judith. Judith exists only in Greek although it was originally written in Hebrew in the Land of Israel in the late 2nd century BCE. It was translated into Greek by the Jewish community of Alexandria and included in their Bible the Septuagint. It Continue Reading »

Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls Lecture 7 12 15 2016

Posted on January 1, 2017
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  This seventh lecture finishes the War Scroll 1QM, and looks at tyhe the way the DSS can illuminate our understanding of early Christianity and the rise of Rabbinic Judaism.

STUDY MATERIAL FOR PARSHAT VA-YISHLACH Genesis 32:4-36:43 December 17, 2016

Posted on December 19, 2016
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In this week’s parasha, Jacob is returning to his family after an absence of 20 years. He finds out that his brother Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. He is afraid because of what he had done to Esau, tricking him and their Father Isaac out of the birthright and the paternal Continue Reading »

Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls Lecture 6 12 08 2016

Posted on December 14, 2016
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First discovered in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) are one of the greatest archaeological finds ever made. Despite decades of research there are still a number of questions about the scrolls and their authors which have never been definitively answered. The most interesting and most basic question is: Who wrote the DSS? Were they Continue Reading »

Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls Lecture 5 12 01 2016

Posted on December 12, 2016
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First discovered in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) are one of the greatest archaeological finds ever made. Despite decades of research there are still a number of questions about the scrolls and their authors which have never been definitively answered.  The most interesting and most basic question is: Who wrote the DSS? This fifth Continue Reading »

TORAH STUDY MATERIAL FOR PARSHAT TOLDOT Genesis 25:19-28:9 December 4. 2016

Posted on December 4, 2016
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This material talks about the character of Esau as he first appears in the Torah. Is Esau our brother or our enemy? Despite many of his negative character traits, Esau is not depicted as a completely evil person and our sympathy is aroused for him to some extent. The material also shows some later sources Continue Reading »