Interesting & memorable events

Simchat Torah (Day of Celebrating the Torah) for Hebrew Year 5781 begins at sundown on Saturday, 10 October 2020 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, 11 October 2020. Simchat Torah or Simḥath Torah (also Simkhes Toreh, Hebrew: שִׂמְחַת תורָה, lit., "Rejoicing with/of the Torah,") is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar).

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai / פרשת בְּהַר־בְּחֻקֹּתַי Read on 8 May 2021 (26 Iyyar 5781). Parashat Behar-Bechukotai is the 32nd and 33rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-27:34 The first of this double portion, Behar (בהר), starts talking about a Shabbat for the land. We sow and reap for six years, but leave the land a year of rest in the seventh year. We do not work the land in that year, but we, and anyone else in need, are allowed to gather any produce that the land provides. Hashem assures us that we have plentiful crop in the other years to provide for those years of rest. If our fellow is in dire straits, we provide a no-interest loan. If they can not pay it back by the seventh year, all debts are forgiven. Hashem assures us that what we think we will lose by not having the loan paid back will be made up by prosperity. The highest form of charity is to do business with a fellow Jew to help them make a living. Seven by seven years is the Jubilee year. Any land that has been sold off because our fellows has not been successful is returned. We are paid for the amount of time we used the land. If our fellow has to sell themselves to fellow Israelites because they can not support themselves, they go free in that Jubilee year as well. Meanwhile, a fellow’s relatives should do all they can to redeem them. Foreign slaves, however, do not get freed. The second of the two portions, Bechukotai,(בחקתי),, discusses the blessings and the warnings if the Israelites do, or don’t do the commandments. It starts out discussing the blessings, that if the Children of Israel follow Hashem’s decrees and judgments and perform them, the rain will appear at their proper times and there will be prosperity. They will not fear any enemy and defeat any that attack them. Hashem will walk with us. The sedra then goes on to discuss the consequences of us not following G-d’s laws, the “admonition” or “tochachah”. This seven series of progressively worse consequences that will befall Israel for not following Hashem’s laws and decrees. As the people get more and more apathetic, the consequences get worse and worse. Finally, Israel sees the error of their ways and return to Hashem, who in turn restores their strength and prosperity. Ultimately, however, each stage of punishment is a call to repent. Finally, Bechukotai and Leviticus ends with gifts to the Temple. People can have themselves or their animals assessed for a contrived value, which they then donate.

Parashat Emor / פרשת אֱמוֹר Read on 1 May 2021 (19 Iyyar 5781). Parashat Emor is the 31st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 21:1-24:23 This portion starts out discussing various laws of the Kohenim, the priests. It starts off by admonishing priests that they are holy and should only participate in performing last rites if there is no one else to do it. A priest may “contaminate” himself only if the deceased is a member of his immediate family. A cohen must only marry a woman who has not yet been married. A Cohen may not make any gashes or alterations to his body. Likewise, in order to officiate at the Temple, he must not have any disqualifying blemishes or deformities. Animals being used as offerings must also be free of disqualifying blemishes or deformities. He may, however, eat terumah or food offerings. Verses 31 and 32 of chapter 22 is considered a very important verse, Torah in microcosm. Verse 31 tells us to observe and perform Hashem’s commandments. Verse 32 tells us not to desecrate Hashem’s holy name. Associated with these verses, the sages tell us that the only times we are to give up our lives is when faced with either idolatry, sexual perversion, or unnecessary bloodshed. The sedrah then discusses the three pilgrimage festivals observed throughout the Jewish year. They are described as mo’adim, or appointed times, because that’s when Jews come together to meet. The Children of Israel are commanded to designate these dates as special times. Passover, or Pesach, is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month. This is Nisan observed in the spring. We are to do no laborious work (preparing food is fine). We are to eat only unleavened bread for seven days (eight in the diaspora). Starting on the second day, we count the Omer, the offering of the first grain harvest, barley. This reflects the ancient practice of bringing the first harvest to the Temple as an offering. An omer is a unit of dry measure, equal to the volume of 43.2 eggs. We count the Omer for forty-nine days to arrive at Shavuot. This celebrates Moses bringing Israel the Law, the Ten Commandments. Shavuot also is the festival of reaping. In the seventh month on the first day is Rosh Hashannah, described as a day of remembrance with shofar blasts. Ten days later is Yom Kippur, the day we afflict ourselves and repent our sins. On the fifteenth day, we observe Sukkot, the Festival of Booths and the culmination of our process of repentance and redemption. This commemorates the protection Hashem gave us when we wandered in the wilderness. It is also the time when the summer’s produce is gathered. This ends with Atzeret, the day of assembly. We are then commanded to take the four species, the estrog/citron (resembles the heart); lulav/palm branch (representing the spine); hadasim/myrtle leaves (representing the eyes); and the aravot/willow branch (representing the lips). They are held together and used during the Sukkot services. Finally, we are commanded to perform the lighting of the Menorah, and placing the twelves loaves of the showbread on the table in the Temple.

Officiating at a Wedding for some dear friends

At ModernRabbiShmuel, I officate at all Jewish Life Cycle Events including traditional and non-traditional, affiliated and non-affiliated, and Jewish and Interfaith. Personalized and meaningful services for lasting, beautiful memories. https://www.modernrabbistephen.com Top of Page Upcoming Events Shabbat Times Services New Blog Videos Upcoming Events Upcoming Events מספר תאריכים Friday Night Shabbat Ma'ariv Service יום ו׳, 28 באוג׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה מספר תאריכים Saturday Morning Shabbat Shacharit Service שבת, 29 באוג׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה מספר תאריכים Adult Hebrew Class II יום א׳, 30 באוג׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה מספר תאריכים Miller Course, Introduction to Judaism יום א׳, 30 באוג׳ Zoom עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Friday Night Rosh Hashanah/Shabbat Ma'ariv Service יום ו׳, 11 בספט׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Saturday Morning Rosh Hashana 1/Shabbat Shacharit Service שבת, 12 בספט׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Sunday Morning Rosh Hashana 2 Shacharit Service יום א׳, 13 בספט׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Kol Nidre/ Erev Yom Kippur 2026 / יוֹם כִּפּוּר 5787 יום א׳, 20 בספט׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Yom Kippur Shacharit 2026 / יוֹם כִּפּוּר 5787 יום ב׳, 21 בספט׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Yom Kippur Mincha 2026 / יוֹם כִּפּוּר 5787 יום ב׳, 21 בספט׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Sukkot II / סֻכּוֹת ב׳ Sunday Morning Shacharit Service יום א׳, 27 בספט׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Erev Simchat Torah / עֶרֶב שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה שבת, 03 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Simchat Torah 2026 / שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה 5787 יום א׳, 04 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה 2026 Jewish Federation Book Festival יום א׳, 25 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה New Blog NewBlog This week's 10-Minute Torah (May 8, 2021): "Parashat Behar-Bechukotai" 5781 Rabbi Stephen Epstein 3 במאי 2021 זמן קריאה 2 דקות This week's 10-Minute Torah (May 1, 2021): "Parashat Emor" 5781 Rabbi Stephen Epstein 29 באפר׳ 2021 זמן קריאה 2 דקות Services Services Offered Rabbi Stephen S. Epstein A Modern Conservative Rabb i Baby Naming Bar & Bat Mitzvot Spiritual Counseling Individualized Torah Study Funerals & Memorials Conversions Weddings Videos All Videos כל הקטגוריות צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 09:22 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Parashat Nitzvim Vayelch 5786 (5 September 2026 / 23 Elul 5786) "We are all standing here..."; Fulfilling the commandments for the High Holidays צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 30:32 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Adult Hebrew II Parashat Ki Tavo 5786 Reviewing the upcoming Torah portion for Ki Tavo, Triennial Year 1, 5786 צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 47:44 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Adult Hebrew II Parashat Ki Teitzei 5786 Reviewing the upcoming Torah portion of Ki Teitzei, Triennial Year 1 צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 09:23 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Friday Night Sermon (14 August 2026) Redemption and Renewal, not blame and pain. צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 11:03 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Parasha Ki Tavo 5786 (29 August 2026 / 16 Elul 5786) Is Reward and Punishment that cut & dried, black & white? צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 33:46 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Adult Hebrew II Parashat Shoftim 5786 Reviewing the upcoming parashat, Triennial Year 1, of Shoftim 5786 טען עוד Videos Shabbat Times

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