Curiously included among those ‘who stand (nitzavim) before God,’ are the wood choppers and water drawers (Deuteronomy 29:10), people whose jobs require great physical exertion. Who are these menial laborers? Da’at Zekenim (Tosafot) […]
My understanding of the ‘Spanish and Portuguese’ Jewish diaspora is now far more nuanced, having recently visited the S&P communities of London, Amsterdam and Paris, coupled with my intimate familiarity […]
During my recent swing through Europe, and my visits to the Spanish and Portuguese congregations of Amsterdam and London, I also visited the Portuguese synagogue of Paris, Temple Buffalt. I […]
I enjoyed a wonderful Shabbat at the Laurderdale Rd Synagogue of Congregation Shaar Hashamayim – the Spanish Portuguese Jews of London. There are several synagogues and minyanim that are part of S&P network of London, and of […]
I’m quite glad that I took a detour to London for a final stop during my trip to Europe. It gave me the opportunity to visit the historic Bevis Marks Synagogue. […]
I don’t know of any other Jewish cemeteries depicted in 17th century art. This one was by the Dutch painter Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael in his aptly titled “The Jewish […]
To pray and teach at the Esnoga was extraordinary. The Esnoga and Portuguese Jewish community of Amsterdam are the things of lore. Ever since I began serving at Shearith Israel, […]
It is a humbling experience to walk into the library of the Ets Haim yeshiba. Surrounded by sefarim, many from the 17th century, one can only imagine the Torah immersion […]
Amsterdam means something quite different to me than it does to most other visitors, I suppose. When I think of Amsterdam, I immediately think of Portuguese Jewry, and how in […]
In anticipation of Shavuot I’ve been thinking about a well know Talmudic aggadah and I was surprised to find myself understanding it in a new way. I refer here to […]
Shalom Says Hello 