Torah And Today Rabbi Ken Brodkin

The Jewish people face unprecedented challenges in our times. How do we prepare for the future in these days of great trials? 2,600 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah taught us a lesson in faith in a time when destruction was at the door—literally. His act of audacious hope is beckons us today.

It’s hard to think of something as basic as the Pesach Seder, when the entire Jewish people gather around the table. Yet, for many, it can be hard to connect with the Seder experience.This challenge has special meaning today. Last Shabbat NJ time, Iran launched a rocket attack on Israel, part of Iran’s genocidal attempt to wipe the world’s only Jewish state off the map. How do we approach the Seder in this perilous time?There is a lot to figure out about the Seder…When we arrive to the Seder ...

The Torah remarks of one who is stricken with the Tzaaras plague that “outside of the camp shall be their dwelling.” This sense of “dwelling outside” may be an apt description of people in our community who lack the family structure we promote. People who are single, divorced or childless can easily feel isolated.How do we help Jews of all backgrounds connect with their heritage?

My family recently celebrated the wedding of our daughter. The “Sheva Brachos” our sages instituted carry a universal message for the month of Nisan, as gratitude to God is a major foundation of Judaism.

In various cultures from the US to China, it’s become more popular to delay children or not have them at all. Yet, procreation is a major Mitzvah in the Torah. Join us as we explore how VaYikra—"the book of meaning”—guides us to raise families and steep the Jewish people in the path of Mitzvos.

The Mitzvah of “Zachor” (Remember) as well as the Megilla teach us how to spread Jewish pride in the days of Purim and beyond.