Our school is successful because of the hard work and dedication of our staff. I’d like to offer them each a Yasher Koach and share some of their personal accomplishments with you. CJ Burka – Received her Master’s…
Dear Laura and the Etz Hayim Religious School Family, I just opened my mail, and there was a beautiful kippah with a tree in wire and beautiful stones, a gift to me from you. I will treasure…
A few weeks ago I mentioned to you that I was going to do a Tikun Leil Shavuot on May 28, from 6-8pm. My plan was to share texts from Abraham Joshua Heschel relating to Revelation and…
What is your full name?Jonah Nathan Goldin Ascoli Where were you born?Fairfax County, VA What is the date of your Bar Mitzvah?May 23, 2020, or 29 Iyar 5780 How long have you been in our Religious School?…
What follows can be viewed as a love letter to the community. I am truly grateful to everyone that participated in enriching my life and that of my daughter. I’ve tried to remember her some of the…
This week we read two portions in the Torah, B’Har and B’Hukotai. Parashat B’Har focuses mostly on the laws of the Sabbatical and the Jubilee years. Parashat B’Hukotai focuses on the God’s promise to the Israelites that if they obey God’s commandments, their lives…
I have shared with you my vigilance during this pandemic. All that I hear are the dire predictions of the economic downturn we will experience as this crisis is over. What does Judaism ask of us as…
During this time of the counting of the omer, our tradition teaches that we mourn the death of 24000 students of Rabbi Akivah, from a mysterious plague. We are now in the 34th day of the count, and…
Today is Lag Baomer. Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the counting of the omer. On this day the strictures of the omer period are traditionally lifted, and people enjoy games, fun, and the outdoors. It also happens that Lag BaOmer, according…
This week, in Parashat Emor, in chapter 23 of the Book of Leviticus, we have a calendar of annual festivities. This calendar starts by teaching us about Shabbat. In the Book of Leviticus, chapter 23, we read:“1.…