Kol Ramah

With Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Lekh L’kha [Genesis 12-17] marks Avram’s entrance into the land that God would show him, identified as the land of Canaan [12:5]. He has left his father Terach in Haran, giving powerful punch to the command to Avram to depart “your land, your birthplace, and your father’s house”. Chizkuni, the medieval commentator, explains that the Torah mentions that Avram was 75 [12:4] in order to teach us that Terach was still alive [145, with 60 more years to live]. Avram, renamed Avraham later in the parashah [17:5], appears in a number of scenes, not all of which portray him as well as one might like or even expect. We had a lively conversation exploring the character of Avraham, and invite you to send us your votes for favorite patriarch or matriarch at parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!

With Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky - It is parashat Noach [Genesis 6:9-11:32] on Parashah Talk, which always brings back a flood of memories. As we turn over the story of Noah we do not get much beyond his character and the question of how we should evaluate him. Is he the one-eyed man who sees far in the land of the blind but perhaps not even half as well as the one with two eyes, or is even greater than Avraham, who did not have to contend, at least in the Torah, with evil on the magnitude of Noah’s generation? We also talk about the genealogies of the 3 sons of Noah, and the more limited one from Shem to Avram, as he is known when we first meet him. Please let us know how you look at Noah, or anything else, at parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky - Parashah Talk is back for another season! After a couple of weeks to talk about the holidays, we are back to the weekly parashah. This week, the first Shabbat after Simchat Torah, we begin all over again with Parashat B’reshit [Genesis 1:1-6:8]. While the text remains the same, we are a year older, and hopefully wiser, so we look at the text from a slightly different, perhaps more elevated, perspective. We are grateful for the opportunity to talk Torah, and hope you enjoy listening and/or watching! Shabbat Shalom!!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky - The High Holy Day season, which began with Rosh Chodesh Elul, the 1st of the Hebrew month of Elul [this year, August 9, 2021], comes to a triumphant climax this week with Shabbat Chol Ha-Mo’ed Sukkot, whose Torah reading features the 13 attributes [which we discussed in the Yom Kippur edition] and the reading of Sefer Qohelet [the Book of Ecclesiastes], Hoshanah Rabbah on Monday, Sh’mini Atzeret on Tuesday, and Simchat Torah on Wednesday. We cover each of these in turn as we wind up the Torah Reading cycle this year and look forward to beginning again on Simchat Torah with the first Creation story, and next Shabbat with the opening Torah portion of 5782! The three of us have had our lives enriched by coming together now nearly every week for the last year-and-a-half. We hope we have enriched your lives as well with our discussion of Torah! מועדים לשמחה is the customary greeting for this time of year. A joyous holiday season and a Good Year.

Parsha Talk: With Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. We are back with a special edition of Parashah Talk devoted to Yom Kippur. We discuss a range of topics: the haunting music of Kol Nidre, the last shofar blast and the Jubilee Year, the 13 Middot of God [Exodus 34:6-7] which are at the heart of the s’lichot [penitential prayers], the confessions of sins, among others. We hope you enjoy it! May we all be sealed in the Book of Life for the New Year!!

We have a special edition of Parashah Talk for Rosh Hashanah, whose conversation focuses mostly on the shofar and what it means to us to blow it and to listen to it. Because of the way Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur fall this year we will be back with a Yom Kippur edition in about two weeks. With best wishes for a Shanah Tovah U-m’tukah, a good and sweet year. May we all be inscribed for a year of blessing and Torah study!

Parsha alk with Rabbis Eliot Malmet, Jeremy Kalmonofky and Barry Chesler. The last four parashiyot [Torah Readings] of Sefer D’varim [Book of Deuteronomy] comprise fewer than five chapters, whereas the five before this week [Nitzavim, Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20] span 22 chapters. We address this point this week, exploring what Eliot calls parshaology. We mostly discuss just a few verses, the opening ones, the closing ones, perhaps a few others, including lo bashamayim hi [30:12, ‘it is not in heaven’], though we do not delve into its rabbinic use in the famous talmudic story, The Oven of Akhnai. This morning in minyan [the first staff day for the new school year], the Associate Head of School asked me about the dots over the words in 29:8. I knew they signified something, but could not remember at the time. Jeremy has a fascinating explanation! In the meanwhile, as we get ready for Rosh Hashanah next Monday night, the three of us wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom!

Parsha Talk; with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsky and Barry Chesler. Parashat Ki Tavo [Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8] features 3 of the passages mentioned in the first 2 mishnayot of Tractate Sotah Chapter 7. There the rabbis list passages which may be recited in any language, since understanding is of utmost importance, and those which must be recited in Hebrew, because the ritual performance is paramount. The vidui ma’aser [confession over the tithe (Deut. 26: 12-15] may be recited in any language, whereas miqra biqqurim [the declaration over first fruits (Deut. 26:1-11)] and the b’rakhot u-q’lalot [blessings and curses (Deut. 27:11-26)], must be recited in Hebrew, the holy language. Chapter 28, by far the largest section of the parashah, contains the tohekhah [the rebuke, a lengthy list of curses which will afflict the Israelites for failure to keep God’s commandments]. Following longstanding rabbinic precedent, we mention a phrase from the haftarah so as not to end on a down note. Criticisms, comme

Parashat Ki Tetze [Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19] has more commandments than any other parashah, what Eliot refers to as the greatest mitzvah density. With well over 10% of the rabbinic count of 613 commandments, we could hardly do justice to all of them. We spend a good chunk of time on the first 3: the law of the captive wife [21:10-14], the law of inheritance for the children of 2 different wives [21:15-17], and the law of the stubborn and rebellious son [21:18-21], discussing the laws individually as well as trying to ascertain what they have in common. We also talk about the sending of the mother bird away from her nest of fledglings or eggs before taking them [22:6-7]. While other laws came up, I hope this is enough to whet your appetite! Shabbat Shalom! Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsky and Barry Chesler

Soundtrack recorded live. Featuring Machon and Kayitz 2021 Hofa'a band

Originally by Igal Bashan. A tribute to Mitch Mernick and Yaniv Morozovsky.

Parashat Shoftim [Deuteronomy 16:9-21:9] with its miscellany of laws is a kind of prequel to Parashat Ki Tetze [Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19], which has the largest number of mitzvot [commandments] of any single parashah, well over 10% of the rabbinic total of 613. Shoftim, which means judges, focuses on the different kinds of leaders: judges, kings, clergy, and prophets. There are also rules for warfare, among other subjects. One feature which we did not address is the last occurrence in the Torah of the lex talion [the law of revenge, better known as ‘an eye for an eye’]. In these parashiyot in particular, there is much to talk about: what laws meant in their original context, what they mean today, what they mean to us as individuals. If I say I am uncertain what it all means, after you listen, you will understand this reference! Shabbat Shalom!!

Join us for Parasha Podcast - The Next Generation: Shoftim. This is the final episode of Kayitz 2021 podcast produced by Dr Alison Joseph's Yahadut class. This week's podcast features Maya, Bianca, Maya (a different Maya), Shira and Lotam. Take a listen to this interesting discussion of justice and leadership.

Our Machon boys are back with thoughts about Yom Sport and their latest debate. How do YOU eat Oreos?

Live soundtrack of Adat Habogrim performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Produced by Adat HaBogrim and Tzevet Hofa'a, featuring the CRB Hofa'a Band. Recorded at the new outdoor theater at Bet Am Bet by Amy Erlanger for Radio Kol Ramah.

The boys of Machon make us think about whether a hot dog is a sandwich. What do you think?

Weekly podcast by campers for campers. Dr Alison Joseph's Yahadut class features Annie and Emily discussing blessings and consequences and Tzvi with insights on Kashrut and Shmitah. Special visit with Camp Mashgiach Josh Bender. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Re'eh [Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17] is a special one in my family (BC)because it was the parashah when both my girls became Bat Mitzvah in the synagogue, 11 years apart. It is special in the book of Deuteronomy because it is the beginning of the core of the book, according to modern scholars, which extends into Parashat Ki Tavo, in another 3 weeks. One of the tropes of Deuteronomy is the centralization of worship, where our conversation begins. It ends somewhere down the road a piece. Shabbat Shalom!

A story hour with Shorashim.

Another episode featuring Gesher with a surprise phone call.