615 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19123 | 215.627.6747
By Rabbi Bill Kuhn
It was impossible to watch the recent uprising in Egypt and not think of the Passover story. How ironic! Egyptian citizens in the year 2011 felt they were oppressed and enslaved by an authoritarian dictatorship. Perhaps their political oppression was not on a par with the ancient Pharaoh’s enslavement of our Israelite ancestors, but the Egyptians of today certainly felt the need to achieve freedom no less than we did over 3,000 years ago.Continue reading
(Hanukkah blessings and songs, text and audio)
How do you light a Hanukkah menorah, or Hanukkiah? Jews have disagreed on this throughout the ages. The controversy surrounding the Hanukkah menorah lighting goes back about 2000 years. Talmudic rabbis coming from different schools of thought debated ritual practices and two schools that commonly debate one another were that of Hillel and Shammai. The school of Shammai taught that eight candles should be kindled on the first night of Hanukkah and each night, we should decrease a candle. Makes sense, right? Decreasing candles would symbolize the fact that remaining oil decreased each night. Yet, common practice sides with the school of Hillel, which taught us to increase a candle each night. The Maccabees didn’t increase the number of lights the kindled; why should we?Continue reading
by Rabbi Jill Maderer (delivered Kol Nidre “Alternative” service)
A story is told of 3 astronauts who went into space. Upon returning, they were asked to reflect on the experience. One said, “I kept thinking, the world looks so small from outer space—the universe is so vast.” The second answered, “I was astonished to think how much had happened on that globe that I could see: all the wars, the loves, the dramas, all on that small orb.” The 3rd astronaut shrugged and said, “You know, all I could think was –why didn’t I bring a camera?!” We take photographs and we take video, but do we pause to take a breath and to appreciate the wonder that surrounds us. Do we focus through our own lens, and open our eyes to the world.Continue reading
by Rabbi Jill Maderer
Is it enough to confess to God? What if it’s too messy to mend a relationship with a person? Last Friday night, our Interfaith Families Connection Group hosted a Shabbat dinner about the High Holy Days. When I shared this High Holy Day prayer, it sparked passionate debate about tshuvah, repentance. The text reads: “For transgressions against God, the Day of Atonement atones; but for transgressions of one human being against another, the Day of Atonement does not atone until they have made peace with one another.”Continue reading
Why is the blessing before a meal so short, and the blessing after, so long? Why don’t we spend the time thanking God before we eat the food? Because, we’re hungry! At our Shavuot Night of Study, we’ll focus our learning on Birkat HaMazon: Grace After Meals. Want to do some extra preparation? To review and listen to Birkat HaMazon, click here and choose “Birkat HaMazon, short version” and it’s introduction used on Shabbat: “Shir HaMaalot” in the right hand column. Or, just join us for our Night of Study on Tues., May 18, 7:00-9:00 pm. Biblically, Shavuot celebrates the harvest of the wheat. So this Shavuot, study the way Jews have, for generations, thanked God for such bounty. We will discuss the meaning and commentary of the Birkat HaMazon/Grace After Meals, and then we will learn how to chant it together. Join us for this annual tradition of study, as we prepare to receive the Torah once again on Shavuot!
by Rabbi Jill Maderer
Tired of eating matza yet? And why are we still eating it anyway? The seder is over; we have celebrated the redemption of our people and our journey to freedom. So why, now in the middle of the week of Pesach, are we still eating the bread of affliction? Our daily ritual of avoiding chametz and eating matza keeps the messages of Pesach close to our hearts (and our guts). For the week of Pesach, matza is our daily reminder of affliction, and of transformation yet to be.
Professor Julius Lester is a retired African American Jewish scholar and activist. In a modern midrash (creative commentary), he asks the question: “Why did God give the responsibility for Moses’ rearing to an Egyptian woman and the daughter of Pharaoh?” Continue reading
by Rabbi Jill Maderer
What is the true miracle of Pesach? Study the first half of the Book of Exodus or watch the film “The Ten Commandments” and it is clear: When the people of Israel, enslaved for generations, flees the Pharaoh’s horse-driven armies and escapes through the parted Sea of Reeds, the miracle is liberation! And we will celebrate this liberation at our RS Second Night Seder!
Of course, there are always at least two answers to every Jewish question. So yes, the miracle of Pesach is redemption. And yet, embedded in our Haggadah, we find another miracle. In rabbis of antiquity framed the biblical Exodus narrative with their own symbolism and messages. Their focus highlights a second miracle that we celebrate even today.Continue reading
By Rabbi Bill Kuhn
Passover and Yom Kippur are the same holiday. Well, maybe there is a little difference, but they share many of the same themes. It’s all about renewal, rebirth, starting over and second chances. Passover takes place in the spring of the year for a reason. All of nature appears to die in the winter, although we know it is only in a dormant state, and the gentle spring rains and sunshine will cause the earth to reawaken. Trees blossom, flowers bloom, grass reappears and the natural world seems to come back to life. All is reborn.Continue reading
by Rabbi Jill Maderer
Pesach is around the corner and the time has come to make plans for Seder, and to prepare to tell the story of the Israelites’ redemption from slavery to freedom! In the last week, I have received many emails with Pesach questions.
Q: Does Rodeph Shalom have a congregation seder I can attend? A: Yes! Please rsvp to our RS Multi-generational Second Night Seder!
Q: What Haggadah should I use at my own seder at home? A: Although no one Haggadah is right for every table, what follows are 5 Haggadot I can suggest for different needs. Remember: never feel like you need to recite the whole Haggadah! If you are the seder leader, flip through ahead of time and mark your book with post-its or notes—it’s all about pre-selection! Continue reading
by Rabbi Jill Maderer
Tonight and tomorrow, we celebrate Tu B’shvat. This Jewish new year for the trees functions as Jewish Earth Day. As you taste the fruits of the holiday (dates, almonds…) and contemplate what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, check out what our members Amy and Keith Sutter are up to! Amy and Keith are spending the year traveling around the world and documenting sustainability; keep up with their discovery of sustainability worldwide, on their blog: Green Around the Globe.
By Rabbi Bill Kuhn
On Friday evening, January 15, 2010 at our 7:30 p.m. Shabbat Service, we will celebrate the national holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. In what has become an annual event at Rodeph Shalom, we will share one of the most meaningful interfaith services of our calendar year as we welcome Reverend Kevin Johnson and the Bright Hope Baptist Church. Reverend Johnson will give the sermon that evening as we also welcome many members of his congregation and his choir. Those of you who have heard him speak and have heard their magnificent choir know what an unforgettable experience this is. Continue reading
