Kol Ramah

Parashat Yitro [Exodus 18:1-20:22] is best known for the original narration of the 10 Commandments. They will appear again in Deuteronomy 5, when Moses is reviewing for the people their history and narrates them again. The episode in Exodus is known as מעמד הר סיני [ma'amad har sinai, "the standing at Sinai"], and is the central event in the Jewish people's self-understanding. Chapter 18 focuses on Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law, and has its own intereset, We spend time on both chapter 18 and chapters 19-20, we hope to your benefit! Comments, questions, and criticisms welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat B'shallach [Exodus 13:17-17:16] features the Song of the Sea, the triumphant poem of redemption sung by the Israelites when they have crossed the Sea of Reeds and turn around to see the Egyptians dead on the opposite shore. Rather than poetry, our conversation is more about prose: the character and leadership of Moses, the character of the Israelites as they cross over, ostensibly into freedom, the institution of Shabbat, and the battle with the Amalekites. Give a listen to Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler on Parsha Talk! Comments and criticisms are welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com. While we read the mail and intend to answer questions on the next show, we are not always successful. Do not despair! Send the question again! There is, for the forseeable future, always next week!

Join Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler for Parsha Talk. Parashat Bo [Exodus 10:1-13:16] covers the last three plagues [locusts, darkness, and the slaying of the first-born] and includes chapter 12 [one of my favorite chapters in the entire Torah] and the beginning section of chapter 13 [which is actually more than half the chapter going by the verse count]. This beginning section is perhaps better known to us from tefillin, worn at weekday morning services, which has four Torah passages in its boxes [the first and second paragraphs of the Sh'ma and Ex. 13:1-10 and 13:11-16]. Chapter 12 itself is read, in addition to this week, on Shabbat Hachodesh [verses 1-20, March 13 this year], the Shabbat just before or coinciding with Rosh Chodesh Nisan, and on the first day of Passover [verses 21-51, this year on March 28]. In addition, we have some of the questions associated with the 4 sons of the Passover Seder. So we will get another crack at some of this material! Comments and critici

Join us on this MLK weekend as we celebrate and remember Dr. King, whose transformative message is tied to our early chapters of the book of Shemot. Parashat Va-era [Exodus 6:2-9:35] opens with a theological bang, the declaration by God that He did not make Himself known to the patriarchs by the same name as He made Himself known to Moses [6:2-3]. A little later, Moses gives, as it were, his first sermon [in particular, 6:6-8], with the 4-5 words of redemption which are each represented by a cup of wine at the Passover Seder. The people do not listen, because of qotzer ru'ah [diminished spirit] and hard work; a modern idiom might say that Moses bombed! And then we get the first seven plagues. Our conversation meanders, as is our wont, but there should be something for everyone! As always, comments and criticisms are welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!

Join Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. Parashat Sh'mot [Exodus 1:1-6:1], which takes its name from the first key word, sh'mot [names], as does the book itself, is better described by the Latin/Greek name Exodus, since that is the, or at least a, great theme of the book. But the events that lead up to the Exodus and the Exodus itself take up less than the first half of the book. Within the first few verses, b'nai Yisrael, the children of the patriarch Jacob who had been renamed Israel, become b'nai Yisrael, the people Israel. Indeed, the Hebrew word עם [am, people], is used for the first time in connection with the people in verse 9, by Pharaoh, which is appropriate, since names are often how other people call us, not necessarily how we call ourselves. In a parashah which collapses the first 80 years of Moses' life into a few chapters, there is a lot going on. The central part of the reading for those on the annual cycle is the scene at the Burning Bush, which we discuss. But ev

The last edition of Parashah Talk 2020 is now available for the New Year with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. Parashat Va-yehi [Genesis 47:28-50:26] concludes ספר בראשית [Book of Genesis]. With the conclusion of the book comes the blessing of Ephraim and Menashe, Jacob's last words to his sons, the death of Jacob and the return of his remains to Canaan, the last scene between Joseph and his brothers, and the death of Joseph, with the promise of returning his remains to Canaan one day. As always the conversation is spirited. Comments and criticisms welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsky and Barry Chesler bring us Parsha Talk! It is the last Shabbat of 2020 but the penultimate parashah of Sefer Bereshit. Va-yiggash [Genesis 44:18-47:27] describes the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers, the move to Egypt of Jacob and his entire family, and Jacob's meeting with Pharaoh. As if there were not enough in the parashah itself to talk about, we touch upon the ones for next week [the end of Genesis] and in two weeks [the beginning of Exodus]. I think you will find something to think about! Comments, criticisms, questions welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com.

Because the first day of Hanukkah was on Friday and we record Parashah Talk on Thursday, we have the 2nd Hanukkah edition of Parashah Talk for 5781. Parashat Miketz [Genesis 41:1-44:17] is the 2nd of the 3 parashiyot which focus on Joseph and his brothers. Joseph rises to 2nd in command to Pharaoh on the basis of his dream interpretation and suggested program for how to deal with the coming famine, he reencounters his brothers after 20+ years, and Benjamin is discovered to have the royal goblet. We focused on the character of Joseph, with some attention spent on the character of the butler, even comparing the butler to Haman (!). A discussion of the meaning of the names of Joseph's two sons suggests a comparison between Joseph and Moses. Along the way we talk about the possibilities and difficulties of Jews in Exile [or the Diaspora, as we like to say nowadays]. Comments welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com. A Happy Hanukkah to one and all on this last night of Hanukkah! Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmono

Presented by Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. Our first Hanukkah edition of Parashah Talk! This week is parashat Va-yeshev [Genesis 37:1-40:23], the beginning of the Joseph story in earnest [we have been previously introduced to him], which will carry through to the end of the book in another 3 weeks. This week we have Joseph's dreams, his sale into slavery, his stay in Potiphar's house, and his imprisonment with the butler and baker. There is the curious story of Judah and Tamar, which, like Hanukkah, we did not have time for. At least with Hanukkah, we have another crack next week! With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom and Hag Urim Same'ah [a peaceful Shabbat and a joyous Festival of Lights]!

Parsha Talk - Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. This week, Va-yishlach [Genesis 32:4-36:43], the parashah covers a lot of ground; we perhaps not so much. We wrestle with the texts, particularly the wrestling match between Jacob and the angel, and the reconciliation between Esau and Jacob. Along the way we make connections to a number of other stories in the Torah, which often provides unexpected food for thought. Comments and criticisms welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com!

In recognition of our wonderful medical staff, Max shares medical stories from Wingdale, Lake Ellis and Camp Kee - Wah going back to the to the 1940s and 1950s. Did you know one year there was a milk shortage at camp? Join our virtual L'Chaim Gala https://www.ramahberkshires.org/gala2020/, honoring our medical, nursing and Marp staff! December 5, 8:00 PM

Rabbi Barry Chesler writes: This week's parashah, Vayetze [Genesis 28:10-32:3], holds a special place in my heart. A mere 52 years ago I was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah at South Suburban Beth Israel Synagogue, as it was then known, Park Forest, Illinois. Six years later, unbeknownst to me at the time, Carol became a Bat Mitzvah this same parashah, in University City, Missouri. The parashah begins and ends with a journey; in-between Jacob gets married twice, fathers 12 children with 4 women, and acquires large herds. There is much to discuss; as with all the parashiyot in Genesis, the central task is deciding what not to talk about. While there is much we could have talked about, we filled our time well. Send us a message at parshatalk@gmail.com to let us know if you agree! Parsha Talk is brought to us by Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet; Jeremy Kalomonofsky and Barry Chesler bring us Parsha Talk! Parashat Toldot [Genesis 25:19-28:10] takes us from the birth of the twins, Esau and Jacob, to the leaving of Jacob for Paddan Aram to find a wife from among his kin and the marriage of Esau to a daughter of Ishmael to please his parents. Perhaps the two key stories are the selling of the birthright [b'khorah] and the blessing [b'rakhah] of the twins by Isaac. There is much to discuss and we get into it! Now it is your turn!!

In 1910, Joseph D. Weil founded the College Camp and Pine Forest Colony, which later became Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. In 1939, shortly before his passing, he transferred ownership of the camp to his only child, Linton Weil. In 1942, Linton left Wingdale for New York City to open a nightclub in midtown called The Riobamba. Linton still owned camp, which Joseph's widow Rose operated in his absence. Linton funded the Riobamba, however, with $45,000 that he made from camp. Inflation adjusted for today, that's nearly three quarters of a million dollars! Its namesake being a city in Ecuador, the Riobamba's decorations had a Latin American theme to them. It was also inspired by a popular club of the time, the Copacabana. For Riobamba's opening night, Weil and his team brought in Jane Froman and the Chandra-Kaly dancers. Froman comissioned a theme song for the club, paying $50 to composer. Who was this composer? A not yet well-known Jew from Massachusetts named Leonard Bernstein! This song uses many different mus

Parashat Chayyei Sarah [Genesis 23:1-25:18] begins with the death of Sarah at the age of 127 [and Rashi's curious comment about how she was as sinless at 100 as she was at 20, as sinless at 20 as she was at 7], and concludes with the death of Abraham, followed by the genealogy of Ishmael and Ishmael's death. The longest chapter of Genesis, 24 [67 verses], features the story of Avraham's servant securing Rebecca as a wife for Isaac. There is a lot to talk about! Questions and comments are welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com.

Max Silverstone, cantorial student at the H.L. Miller Cantorial School - JTS and member of the music staff Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, shares his research on the history of our camp in Wingdale, NY. He has unearthed wonderful musical recordings from the earliest years of Camp Ramah as well as its predecessor on the site, Camp Kee-Wah. From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side two consists of the cheers of the girls’ junior camp (first 4 tracks) and camp wide Kee-Wah spirit songs (the last 5 tracks) Max visited with Mitch Mernick for this special presentation of Kol Ramah BaBayit! We have featured tracks from these two albums on this podcast. The complete albums can be found at https://kolramah.us/ and www.soundcloud.com/kolramahberkshires.

The latest edition of Parashah Talk, for Parashat Va-yera [Genesis 18:1-22:24] is now available. We ignored chapters 21 [birth of Isaac and banishment of Ishmael] and 22 [binding of Isaac and birth of Rebeccah], most recently read on Rosh Hashanah, a mere 7 weeks ago, and focused on chapter 19, Abraham's famous conversation with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah and the curious behavior of Lot, Abraham's nephew, who, shall we say, repeatedly takes the low road, when given a choice. Comments are welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com. Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. Enjoy!

It came advertised as the best conversation on this week's parsha, and who am I to argue? Lekh L'khah [Genesis 12:1-17:27] covers a lot of ground: the call of Abraham [12:1-6], the Covenant of the Pieces [ch. 15], the Covenant of Circumcision [ch. 17], the War of the Kings [ch. 14], and the story of Hagar and birth of Ishmael [ch. 16]. Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsky, and I, Rabbi Barry Chesler did not cover so much ground of the parsha, almost the entire conversation was on the opening verses. Still, we talked for a half hour and more, and had fun! We hope you will, too!

Parashat Noach [Genesis 6:9-11:32] always brings back a flood of memories! Rabbis Eliot Malomet and Jeremy Kalmanofsky, together with yours truly, Rabbi Barry Chesler, discuss the claims to Noah's greatness, the command to leave the Ark when the water subsides, and the disturbing incident of Noah's drunkenness. We find a little time to touch upon the Family of Nations [chapter 10] and the Tower of Babel [first part of chapter 11]. Our conversation has to end at some point, so we did not quite make it to the end of the parashah. Just as last week's parashah concludes with mention of Noah in preparation for this week, so too this week's parashah concludes with mention of Avram [later renamed Avraham] in preparation for next week's. Perhaps this is where we will begin next week. We now have an e-mail address, so feel free to send comments, questions, and criticisms [gentle, of course!] to: parshatalk@gmail.com.

We begin again on Parashah Talk as the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings starts over this Shabbat with Parashat Bereshit [Genesis 1:1-6:8]. What would a discussion about Genesis be without talking at least a little about Creation? We also talk about the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, and the arc of the entire reading [we saved the ark for next week!]. As always, I, Rabbi Barry Chesler am in conversation with Rabbis Eliot Malomet and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. What is new this week, in addition to the Torah reading, is a brand new e-mail address, to which you can send questions you would like us to consider, comments, and criticisms [though the technical term is gentle suggestions!]: parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!