The old-new Community-Centre of the Adass Yisroel – Congratulations!

Just in time for the start of the festival of Pessach, the works for the façade of the community building of the Israelitische Synagogengemeinde "Adass Jisroel" K.d.ö.R. have been completed.  The work on the first construction phase of the façade of the community centre of the Jewish Community Adass Yisroel at Tucholsky St. 40 in …

Shabbat Parshat Tazria – Not to feel awkward

And Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying: וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר הֹ' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃  וּבִמְלֹ֣את ׀ יְמֵ֣י טׇהֳרָ֗הּ לְבֵן֮ א֣וֹ לְבַת֒ תָּבִ֞יא כֶּ֤בֶשׂ בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה וּבֶן־יוֹנָ֥ה אוֹ־תֹ֖ר לְחַטָּ֑את אֶל־פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ "On the completion of her period of purification, for either son or daughter, she shall bring to the Cohen, the priest, at the entrance of the Mishkan, the Tent …

Shabbat Parshat  Shmini – The tragedy of Nadav and Avihu

Our sages זצ"ל suggest quite a few possible explanations to the shocking death of Nadav and Avihu while celebrating the dedication of the new  Mishkan. One interesting explanation suggests that Nadav and Avihu entered the Mishkan after drinking wine. This explanation has support from the fact that immediately after the Torah tells us what happened, …

Purim

וְכָל עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לְהָמָן כִּי כֵן צִוָּה לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ וּמָרְדֳּכַי לֹא יִכְרַע וְלֹא יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה “All the king's servants at the king's gate kneeled and bowed before Haman, for so had the king commanded concerning him. But Mordechai would not kneel or bow.” (Megilat Esther, 3.2). וַיֹּאמֶר הָמָן לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ יֶשְׁנוֹ …

Witness dilemma – Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Vayikrá

We will read this week in Parshat Vayikra which mainly deals with Korbanot, the sacrificial offering ritual at the Jerusalem’s Temple: וְנֶ֣פֶשׁ כִּֽי־תֶחֱטָ֗א וְשָֽׁמְעָה֙ ק֣וֹל אָלָ֔ה וְה֣וּא עֵ֔ד א֥וֹ רָאָ֖ה א֣וֹ יָדָ֑ע אִם־ל֥וֹא יַגִּ֖יד וְנָשָׂ֥א עֲוֺנֽוֹ׃ "If a person sins, whereby he accepts an oath, and he is a witness [to some matter] or by …

The Shechina and us – Shabbat Parshat Pekudei

This week brings us to the end of the book Shemot.  The final chapter of building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. The last verse in Shemot is : "The divine cloud was over the Mishkan by day, and fire by night, in front of Bnei Yisrael, through all of their travels" (Shemot 40.38). כִּי֩ עֲנַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֤ה …

Appeal to the Chief Rabbi of Russia to intercede for the safety of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Jewish Congregation (Adass Jisroel)  Berlin has urgently requested Russia's chief rabbi Lazar to intercede personally with President Putin to guarantee the life of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and his family. A Jewish family whose life is in acute danger.Rabbi Shlomo Dovber Pinchas Lazar is considered a close confidant of Putin, he  is the …

Shabbat Vayakhel – Wise Hearted

Prof. Peter Salovey is the current President of Yale University and a famous social psychologist.  Much less known is his "Yichus", i.e. his lineage. Namely, the scholar is a descendant of the illustrious Soloweichik family. Together with two other colleagues, he has established the term EQ - or "Emotional intelligence" which is a relatively new …