Keeping Up with the Rabbi

Throughout the past year, I shared with you a weekly video containing my reflection on the weekly Torah portion. First, I want to thank those of you who watched the videos and shared them; you can find them all archived in the “Weekly Torah Reflections 5781” playlist at youtube.com/tbajupiter. (While you’re there, be sure to subscribe to the channel so that you’ll be automatically notified when a new video is posted.) I was enriched by this project, not only by the knowledge that came from learning the Torah and trying to come up with new and relevant insights, but also from using videos to communicate Jewish ideas. Now, when the annual cycle of Torah reading is ending and a new one is about to begin, I decided that I want to continue with the weekly, short videos in the upcoming Jewish year, but I want to expand their theme beyond the weekly portion.

When we use the word “Torah”, sometimes we refer specifically to the Five Books of Moses that are contained in the scrolls in the Ark, and sometimes we refer to the entirety of Jewish texts and oral traditions. Some of my reflections this year will be on Jewish wisdom gleaned from all these sources including the Midrash, the Talmud, and some Kabbalistic books.

Several months ago, someone came to meet with me at the Temple. Before he entered my study, he touched the mezuzah and then kissed his fingers. I have seen it done thousands of times before, and even grew up doing just that, but it was the first time that I realized that this custom is not self-explanatory…and in the eyes of many, might even seem comical. As a result, I started to make a list of other Jewish customs and laws that, unless we know the logic behind them (and sometimes even after knowing it), have a humorous element. Some are so well-known that we never pause to think about why we do them. They make perfect sense to us, but for those who witness them for the first time, they look rather peculiar. For example, the final scene in a Christian wedding is a kiss between the newlywed couple. We Jews break a glass. Some of the videos will explore our unusual practices, their origins, and the debates they triggered throughout history.

In other videos I will provide you with updates on Israel and the Middle East. When something big happens in the area, I address it either during Shabbat Services or invite you to attend a special class. I will continue to do this, but interesting and important things happen in the region all the time that rarely make it to the American media. Based on Israeli and Arab sources, I will try to keep you informed.

Lastly, I will save some videos to address your requests. If you have a question or a Jewish theme you want to further explore and think it will be of interest to our community, please email me at rabbialon@gmail.com and I will try to discuss it in a video.