#jewishlearning

On a more serious note, there are many organizations where you can donate to have a tree planted. Happy Tu BiShvat!

"Introduction to Torah" a digital class with Student Rabbi Josh Gischner

Sunday, July 26, 2020 @ 2:00  PM EST, Registration is free!

This class is open to everyone regardless of your connection or non-connection to the Jewish Community!  Please invite your friends.

See below for class description.

Why do Jews bless everything - from bread to rainbows to even using the bathroom?

Because in Judaism, nothing is too small to be sacred. Blessings (brachot) aren’t just rituals, they’re daily reminders to slow down, show gratitude, and connect to something greater.

Every bite, breath, and new experience becomes holy when we take a moment to acknowledge it. It’s about turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, one blessing at a time.

“An eye for an eye” (עין תחת עין) is one of the most misunderstood phrases in the Torah. Judaism never took it literally. The Talmud (Bava Kama 83b–84a) makes clear: it’s about financial compensation, not physical retaliation.

Maimonides explained that the dramatic language emphasizes the severity of the harm; the perpetrator must recognize the gravity of their actions and do teshuva (repentance). Justice in Judaism is about accountability, not vengeance. It's about repairing harm with dignity, not perpetuating pain.

In Jewish thought, angels aren’t the haloed cherubs of pop culture—they’re messengers. Divine agents. Pure will without ego.

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Unlike humans, they don’t have free will. They exist to carry out God’s will—no more, no less.

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Some are named—like Michael (protector), Gabriel (strength), and Raphael (healing). Others are anonymous, appearing in dreams, guarding travelers, or delivering divine messages.

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But here’s the twist: Judaism doesn’t obsess over angels. In fact, Jewish texts often remind us not to worship them. Because ultimately, the power isn’t in the messenger—it’s in the Message.

Angels may be holy, but humans—with our messy choices and moral struggles—are where real holiness happens.

Most people think of charity as a kind act—something you do when you’re feeling generous. But in Judaism, giving isn’t just kindness. It’s justice.

Tzedakah isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s a mitzvah, a sacred obligation to help build a fairer world.

From Maimonides’ ladder of giving to the way we preserve dignity through how we give, tzedakah reminds us that we’re responsible for one another. Always.

Why do some tallitot have black stripes, some have blue, and some none at all?

The stripes are often symbolic — many believe they echo the ancient tekhelet (blue thread) once commanded in the Torah. Blue-striped tallitot recall this lost tradition, while black stripes (especially among Ashkenazi Jews) often represent mourning, humility, and memory.

At the center of it all are the tzitzit — ritual fringes tied with deep intention. Their knots and windings symbolize God’s oneness, the 613 mitzvot, and our eternal bond with the Divine.