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Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 05_25_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

On Israel’s 70th anniversary, the U.S. Embassy in Israel was officially dedicated in its new location in Jerusalem. It actually occupies a building that has long been the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. The dedication ceremony was magnificent. and the plaque that...

Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 05_11_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

Freedom is an ideal for humanity that we constantly strive to reach. In 1986, Elie Wiesel (z”l), on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize, said: “As long as one dissident is in prison, our freedom will not be true. As long as one child is hungry,...

Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 05_04_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

Leviticus, a priestly book, has as its primary focus an emphasis on the cleanliness of the community and its adherence to ritual matters for the sake of God’s blessings. Rituals performed perfectly availed the community of God’s gifts; whereas, rituals performed...

Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 04_27_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

Today, we hear a lot about power: military power, corporate power, and political power. We don’t hear as much about personal power. But, in this week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mot/K’doshim, a double portion, we learn about the potential for personal power. It...

Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 04_20_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

In the double portion, Tazria/M’tzora, we have the responsibility, even if it isn’t our pleasure, to investigate texts on birth and its aftermath, bodily afflictions and emissions, skin ailments, and leprosy. They were once taboos that raised fears in the community...

Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 04_13_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

The dietary laws presented in the Book of Leviticus are intended to draw us closer to God. But even I, as a rabbi, sometimes have difficulty understanding how the Torah intends for this to happen. The second part of Sh’mini (Leviticus 10:12-11:47) takes up the subject...

Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 04_06_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

In the first half of Parashat Sh’mini (Leviticus 9:1-10:11), we read about the awful fate of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu. As sons of the High Priest, we would assume that the boys would know their way around holy matters. But, Nadab and Abihu brought an eish zarah,...

Rabbi Lyon’s Blog – 03_30_2018

by | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized

When Shabbat falls on the first day of Pesach, Yom Rishon shel Pesach, we read in Torah Moses’ instructions to, “remember this day, on which you went free from Egypt, the house of bondage …” (Exodus 13:3); beginning with this first night of Passover, which...