Parashat Ekev 5778 Meir Sendor On a glorious sunny summer afternoon in Efrat our grandchildren who live in Israel, joined by our granddaughter visiting from New Jersey, took part in a community-wide Tzedakah project at a local ball field. Children…
Smoke Signals
Parashat Devarim – Tisha B’Av 5778 Meir Sendor The yahrzeit of Rabbi Yitzhak Luria, the Ari z”l, is the 5th of Menachem Av, and people gathered this week from all over Israel to visit his gravesite in the holy cemetery…
For my image, so they say, is immortal
Parashat Pinchas 5778 Meir Sendor This week’s parashah opens with a stark contradiction flagged by many Torah commentators. Pinchas is rewarded by HaShem with a “covenant of peace” for his violent act at the end of last week’s parashah: he…
Making Space
Parashat Korah 5778 Meir Sendor The local Moroccan Beit HaKnesset we go to here in Tzfat has a delightful spirit. Though we have found most kehillot open and welcoming, there’s a different style to Moroccan custom. Everyone prays the liturgy…
Renovation Road
Parashat Behukotai 5778 This week our Self Renovation workshop, a joint program between Tal Orot and Livnot U’Lehibanot, is in full swing. A number of adventurous adults have joined us here in Tzfat, most from the States, one person from…
This Land is God’s Land
Parashat Behar 5778 Meir Sendor This is our first spring tending the garden we started last fall, and it’s in bloom now, with figs and lemons ripening, the summer vegetables getting started, bees humming in the flowers, ladybugs beginning to…
Above and Beyond
Parashat Vayikra 5778 Meir Sendor I’m not about to wade in to the acrimonious debate going on here in Israel over the exemption of Haredi Yeshivah students from enlisting for some form of military or national service. I will say,…
Salt of the Earth
Parashat Yitro – 5778 Meir Sendor We joined a local Tzfat group this week on a trip down to the Yam ha-Melach, the Salt Sea. It’s one of the unusual features of the Land of Israel which is full of…
Hard Times
Parashat Vaera 5778 Meir Sendor We’ve had a few mild, sunny days since the heavy rains of last week, and more rain is expected soon, so people with outside home repairs to make are getting them in now – including…
Rain Maker
Parashat Shemot 5778 Meir Sendor It is a dark and stormy night – thank God. Israel is getting some desperately needed rain this week, and downpours with strong winds are forecast for the next few days. The fog is thick…
