Recently Added
During These Ten Days of Repentence…
Posted in 2011 - 2012, Participant Stories on 06. Oct, 2011
בס”ד
by: Sam Spencer, Woodbridge, CT … Read more
During these ten days of repentance, we seek a path to lead us back to Hashem, we search for the word which will invite God’s presence to our midst. The attempt to access God’s compassion and understanding is a struggle that flows across the generations, a challenge that has tried the hearts and minds of Jews from Abraham to
Lone Soldier Tekes
Posted in 2011 - 2012, Volunteering on 06. Oct, 2011
בס”ד
by: Cincy Lieberman, Charleston, WV … Read more
As all the Shalem chanichim get settled into our volunteer placements, we begin to learn a new side of the land we live in. Some chanichim are working with a special needs program, some are teaching children soccer, others are working in a pharmacy. Jared and I are helping out at the Lone Soldier Center in Jerusalem. The Center
“Returning to Ourselves”- Yom Kippur 5772
Posted in 2011 - 2012, Chagim on 06. Oct, 2011
בס”ד
by: Rabbi Aharon E. Wexler … Read more
“Man’s origin is from dust, and his end is dust; at the risk of his life he earns his bread; he is likened to a broken shard, a withering blade of grass, a fading flower, as passing shadow, a dissipating cloud, a blowing wind, flying dust, -a fleeting dream”
– From the U’Netaneh Tokef Prayer attributed to Rabbi Amnon
Rosh Hashanah 444 BCE
Posted in 2011 - 2012 on 25. Sep, 2011
בס”ד
by Rabbi Aharon E. Wexler (Shalem Faculty member)
Rabbi Wexler is originally from NY. After high school Rav Wexler made aliya and studied at Yeshivat Hakotel. He teaches Jewish philosophy in addition to giving a bi-weekly chabura. He is also a Doctoral Candidate in Jewish Studies. … Read more
Frankly, what I heard about the man made me think he was crazy. But friends of mine told me that he was speaking in
A feeling called “Shalem”
Posted in Participant Stories on 22. Sep, 2011
בס”ד
by Sivan Bachar, Atlanta, GA … Read more
As I sit here thinking of what to write to all our loved ones back home, I wonder what haven’t you readers already heard about Shalem? If you know someone on the program, you’ve probably been informed of everything going on here, but what I find the hardest to even begin to write about are the feelings we
“Standing Up” for each other
Posted in 2011 - 2012 on 19. Sep, 2011
בס”ד
by Rabbi Gavriel Lakser … Read more
Parshat Nitzavim begins with Moshe’s renewing of the covenant between B’nei Yisral and G-d. Moshe reminds the nation that they are “standing” before G-d as they prepare to enter the land of Israel, and that they must keep the mitzvoth in order to earn the right to stay in Eretz Hakodesh. Interestingly, instead of simply addressing B’nai Yisrael collectively,
Living on $27.5 a month :)
Posted in 2011 - 2012, Participant Stories on 11. Sep, 2011
בס”ד
By Ephraim Shimko, New York, NY … Read more
On Sunday September 4th at 10:00 P.M. we all met at JFK to start our year-long journey together. Everyone was trying to make conversation, though it was rather tough since our flight was delayed and we only departed from JFK at 3:00 A.M., which meant everyone was exhausted. By the time we landed at Ben Gurion Airport, at
If Only to Save One Life…
Posted in Bat Yam, Volunteering on 04. Feb, 2011
Zev Lewis, Toronto, Canada
As I write this in the Magen David Adom (MADA) station in Rishon Le’Tzion awaiting my next call, I can’t help but reflect upon all of the shifts I have done so far. As a volunteer on ambulances with MADA (the Israeli Red Cross), I get to see and experience events that I would never expect to see otherwise. I have … Read more
Parashat Mishpatim: The Human Touch
Posted in Parashat Hashavua on 28. Jan, 2011
By RYO … Read more
Moshe stands before Hashem in the mist (Shemot 20:18) listening to Divine words. Towards the end of this episode, God appoints an angel to watch over Bnei Yisrael (23:20-22). Why does God suddenly hand the task over to an angel? What precisely is the angel’s role in this process? Why is it important, and, in turn, how does this affect Moshe?
God clears
Parashat Yitro: A Novel System for a New Nation
Posted in Parashat Hashavua on 21. Jan, 2011
By RYO
In Parashat Yitro, Moshe’s father in-law, Yitro, advises him to construct a judicial system in place of the current setup. However, is it really possible that Moshe was not capable of coming up with a better system to ease his job as a judge? Did he need Yitro to teach him how to make changes?
Maybe Moshe alters his frame of mind. … Read more