Rabbi Arthur Weiner

Years ago, I taught the congregation the rabbinical ruling that one is to start thinking about the laws of Passover 30 days before Passover actually begins. Even as we are concluding our observance of Purim, our attention begins to shift to what is arguably the most important and most fundamental of Jewish holidays. The extra preparation time is a testament to the importance of this holiday.   Once upon a time, 30 days was enough. But I happened to be at a local supermarket this week and already they are clearing shelf space for Passover supplies. The amount of Passover products is growing, the pre-Passover season has become longer than in the past, and there are more opportunities than ever to learn about Passover. The challenge for our time is not how difficult it is to make Passover, but whether Passover can remain as compelling an experience in our generation as it has been, historically speaking, in our past.  We know that in many ways, Passover may be the best-obser...

When the month of Adar arrives, there is an abundance of joy. Although it’s February, and the weather is still cold, a certain groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania tells us that spring is but several weeks away. Our attention turns to the Hebrew month of Adar, and our wonderful holiday of Purim which begins next Thursday night, February 25. It’s a good time to reflect on this holiday. Remember all the stories about Esther and Mordechai that we learned in Hebrew school? While all true, let’s ask ourselves one question. Why did Mordechai refuse to bow to Haman, thus initiating the conflict that dominates the story?   “All the kings subjects at the king’s gate would bow down and prostrate to Haman, for such was the kings order concerning him, but Mordechai would not kneel or bend low” (Esther 3:2-3). I have always been struck by the significance of Mordechai’s refusal to bow to Haman. Traditional Jewish exegesis proudly explains Mordechai’s courageous action based on some...

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shekalim (literally - the Shabbat of Shekels). It is the first of the Arbah Parshiyot, four special Shabbats that precede the observance of Passover. These special Shabbats are observed by additional reading from a second Torah to mark the occasion. Shabbat Shekalim is always observed on the Shabbat that immediately precedes Rosh Chodesh (the new month) of Adar, or when Rosh Chodesh Adar and Shabbat are observed on the same day, as they are this year. Adar is the month in which Purim is observed. The additional reading for this Shabbat is taken from the 30th chapter of the Book of Shmot (Exodus) and its subject is the machzit hashekel, the half shekel that every Jew was commanded to bring each year for the maintenance of the Temple. This practice continued for hundreds of years, even during the time of the Roman occupation of Israel. This special Torah reading is read at this time of the year because it was during the month of Adar that emissaries wo...

I am sharing a different type of message with you this Shabbat. I want to tell you about a young man from our congregation, Jonathan Newman, the son of our longtime members, Ed and Lois Newman. Jonathan grew up in Paramus, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah here, and for many years has had the honor of the first ark opening on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Jonathan now 39 years old, has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a disease that runs in his mother's family. His grandmother and great-grand mother died from this disease. His mother Lois received a kidney from an altruistic donor 6+ years ago) and his uncle (who received a kidney from a cadaver donor 25+ years ago) are healthy and well. Sadly, Jonathan’s condition, which has been monitored for years, is changing, and his doctors anticipate he too will soon need a kidney. Jonathan is an excellent candidate for a kidney transplant. Since PKD is genetic, and not due to an illness (like diabetes), neither he, nor his donor have to worr...