God’s Role in the Pandemic – Parshat Vaera 5781

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

As vaccinations begin and we think that we can see the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, we must also raise the complicated question of God’s role in the pandemic. As we see in the Parshah, the word “Magefah”, which is the Hebrew word for “pandemic”, implies the direct intervention of God in the world.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
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Leadership, Ego and the Power of Words – Torah Thoughts for Parshat Shemot 5781

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

Last night, President-elect Joe Biden told the world that, “The words of a president matter, no matter how good or bad that president,” the president-elect added. “At their best, the words of a president can inspire. At their worst, they can incite.” When Moshe meets God at the burning bush, one of his comments teaches us a great deal about how Moshe viewed himself, and how leaders can and should use their words.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Yaakov’s Fishy Blessing – Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Vayechi 5781

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

What are fish doing in a blessing? Yaakov, in his blessing to Yosef’s children, makes a curious and seemingly strange choice of langauge connected to fish. Why does he choose this language? According to the Midrash, Yaakov teaches us a beautiful and powerful lesson about the importance of Torah and the blessings that we give to our children. In addition, he also reminded his grandchildren that their true home would always be the Land of Israel.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Vayigash 5781 – The Tears of Yaakov and the Tenth of Tevet

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

the “Yom Hakaddish Haklali” – the day of general kaddish that we recite for those whose yartzeit is not known, or who no longer has someone to say kaddish for them. As we read of the story in Vayigash of Yosef and Yaakov’s reunion, we encounter a different kind of mourning – one we should be mindful of as we fast this year.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Miketz 5781 – Seeing the Light at the End of the Tunnel

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

As the world begins to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, we can begin to the see the end of this terrible global pandemic. This idea of the “beginning of the end” is encoded into the name of Parashat Miketz. What does the word “Miketz” mean, and what can we learn from it?

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Vayeishev 5781 – Can a Parent Have a Favorite Child?

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

In a recent episode of the Crown, Margaret Thatcher mentions that he son is her favorite child. This raises the challenging question of whether parents can or should have favorites. In Parashat Vayeishev, the Torah tells us that Yaakov preferred Yosef, leading to disastrous results. Does this mean we should not have favorites? The Midrash teaches us that the lesson is a bit more complicated than we might have thought.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Vayishlach 5781 – Yaakov and Eisav: Jews in a Non-Jewish World

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

The Sages viewed the fateful reunion between Yaakov and Eisav as a symbol of the future relationship between Yaakov’s descendants – the Jewish people, and Eisav’s progeny, the nation of Edom. In the verse that describes their meeting in the Torah, we find some strange dots. What do they mean, and what can those dots teach us about our relationship with the world around us?

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Vayetze 5781

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Johnny Solomon

In our parashah, Yaakov reaches “the place” where he stops for the night and dreams his famous dream with the ladder that reaches the heavens. In the text, we find an unusual number of mentions of this “place”. Rav Johnny Solomon describes one explanation for this phenomenon.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Toldot 5781

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

In our parashah, Yaakov is faced with the challenge that if he follows his mother’s instructions, he has to lie to his father. What do you do when you cannot tell the truth? In this Kitah lesson, we see how Rashi explains what Yaakov tried to do to solve his problem.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 5, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Chayei Sarah 5781

Kitah’s Parshah Lesson for Chayei Sarah 5781 – with Rabbi Johnny Solomon

In our parashah, we find Avraham taking an active role in purchasing a burial plot for his wife, as well as in finding a wife for his son. Based on this narrative, Rabbi Johnny Solomon shares a powerful idea from Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks zt”l about faith and action.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 5, 2021.