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If you're thinking of converting to Judaism: Completion of the Intro Program fulfills the learning requirements for conversion of the Rabbinical Assembly of America. Once you finish the course requirements and secure a sponsoring rabbi, you are eligible to become officially part of the Jewish People. If you're already Jewish: Whether you were born Jewish but never quite learned what it’s all about, you’re back after a long hiatus, or you’re just looking for a deeper understanding of your heritage, most of us could use a bit of a refresher. Jews from all walks of life enroll in the program: from people who had a Jewish day school education to those whose strongest connection was the annual box of matza on the kitchen counter. Topic: 2022 Miller Introduction to Judaism Sundays, Starting January 23, 2022 Time: 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Pacific Time Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89104655894?pwd=MHZ5clB6alBzYjBMZkIzWXllcndiZz09 Meeting ID: 891 0465 5894 Passcode: 228084

These are special people in your lives. Preserve their memories fondly.

Join us for the start of the High Holiday season. We will be conducting Rosh Hashannah Ma'ariv and Shachrit. We will have a pot luck lunch after the morning Rosh Hashannah service about 1:15 pm followed by Tashlich. Ma'ariv Sunday 9/29 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Shachrit Monday 9/30 9:30 pm - 1:00 pm Tashlich Monday 9/30 2:30 pm

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.

Let's make this wonderful event special and incorporate some Yiddishkeit! WEDDING OFFICIATION Traditional | Non-Traditional | Interfaith Weddings: Service MARRIAGE OFFICIATION Traditional | Non-traditional | Interfaith Get In Touch Interested in learning more about the different types of officiations I conduct? Call me today and make your next ceremony a meaningful occasion. Weddings: Portfolio CONTACT RABBI STEPHEN 11 Vista Toscana Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, CA 92532 USA ModernRabbiShmuel@gmail.com 951-526-4012 Send Your details were sent successfully! Weddings: Contact

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 Order My Book Videos Subscribe Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Erev Sukkot 5786 יום ב׳, 06 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Sukkot I יום ג׳, 07 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Sukkot II יום ד׳, 08 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה מספר תאריכים Friday Evening Shabbat Ma'ariv Services מערב שבת יום ו׳, 10 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה מספר תאריכים Saturday Morning Shabbat Shacharit Services שבת שחרית שבת, 11 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Sukkot Shabbat Chol ha-Moed / סוּכּוֹת שַׁבָּת חוֹל הַמּוֹעֵד שבת, 11 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה מספר תאריכים Children's Religious School יום א׳, 12 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Shmini Atzeret 2025 / שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת 5786 יום ג׳, 14 באוק׳ Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Erev Simchat Torah 2025 / שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה 5786 יום ג׳, 14 באוק׳ Temple Sholom of Ontario עוד פרטים אישורי הגעה Simchat Torah 2025 / שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה 5786 יום ד׳, 15 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 11:01 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Parashat High Holidays 5786 Explaining Yom Kippur; An overview of Torah readings for the High Holidays צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 52:44 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Adult Hebrew II Parashat Haazinu 5786 Reviewing the upcoming Parashat Ha'azinu 5786. Full portion is read for this year. צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 07:10 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Friday Night Sermon 26 September 2025 How ego makes us sin. צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 10:37 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Parashat Ha azinu 5786 (4 October 2025 / 12 Tishrei 5786) Happy New Year!; Give ear and listen to the warnings of forsaking Torah! צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 10:40 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Erev Rosh Hashana Sermon (22 September 2025) Developing Self Esteem for 5786 in order to fulfill yourself for God's purpose צפייה בסרטון צפייה בסרטון 55:14 Rabbi Stephen Epstein (Rav Shmuel) Adult Hebrew II Nitzavim 5785 and Rosh Hashana 1 Nitzavim is read in its entirety in 5785. Rosh Hashana 1 reading Genesis 21:1-34 טען עוד Videos Order My Book Subscribe Subscribe Stay up to date Submit Shabbat Times