Kol Ramah

Parsha Talk - with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chseler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Ha’azinu [Deuteronomy 32:1-52] presented us with unusual difficulties, of a technological nature. Because of the way Yom Kippur fell out, we recorded during my school day, and space in my school is at a premium. Eliot askes for mechilah [forgiveness] in case I come in and out, I was reminded periodically that my internet connection was unstable, and I do as well. Ha’azinu presents other difficulties as well. The parashah is divided into a poem [verses 1–43] and a prose sections [44–52], which Professor Jeffrey Tigay entitles “Conclusion to the Poem”. The poem, as far as the Torah records, should have become more important than it actually became, perhaps because of some of the theological issues which we discuss. The parashah ends with God yet again telling Moses he will not enter the Promised Land, but can only view it from the mountain. We also took the opportunity to discuss some elements of the upcoming holiday of

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Va-yelekh [Deuteronomy 31:1–30] is the shortest parashah in terms of verses, but in terms of words and letters it is second to V-zot Ha-b’rakhah, which is read on Simhat Torah. When Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat, it is paired with Nitzavim [read last week] 29:9–30:30, which has forty verses. Our discussion this week is perhaps more freewheeling than most other weeks, and if memory serves correctly, we did not delve too deeply into the parashah. Eliot noted that this is the most musical season of the Jewish year, and from their our conversation meandered, taking in the significance of Moses’ death at 120 years and various connections to Psalm 27, occasioned by variations of the phrase hazak v-amatz, which appears 3 times this week, and in the last verse of Psalm 27, as well as in the first chapter of Joshua. As the Jewish calendar works out, this is our first Parashah Talk in 5783. We began this journey ove

Parsha Talk, with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Nitzavim [Deut. 29:9-30:20] is the last parashah of 5782, and the third from the end of the weekly readings [V-zot Ha-b’rakhah (Deut. 33:1-34:12), the last parashah, is read on the morning of Simchat Torah (this year, Tuesday, October 18, 2022)]. Nitzavim begins with the declaration that “You stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God . . . to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is concluding with you this day. . . “ (29:9-11 [NJPS]). The Torah goes on to elaborate, “I make this covenant . . . not with you alone, but both with those who are standing here with us this day before the Lord our God and with those who are not with us here this day (29:13-14). This led us to a discussion of which looms larger in our imagination, the Revelation at Sinai or the Coveant Renewal in the plains of Moab. We managed to mention, and discuss, the last verse of the parashah as well, which also

Parsha Talk, with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Ki Tavo [Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8] features some texts which appear in Mishnah Sotah 7, where there is a discussion about which texts may be recited in any language, meaning a language one understands, and which must be recited in Hebrew, presumably because the ritual itself is what is important, and not so much one’s understanding. In the latter group [actually mentioned first in the Mishnah] is the passage recited by the farmer who brings his first fruits [Deut. 26:5–11] and the blessings and curses [Deut. 27:12–26}, which is something of an anomaly because they were only recited once, when the Israelites crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land [see Josh. 8] In the former group is the vidui ma’aser, the confession over the tithe [Deut. 26:12–16]. We spent most of our time discussing the ritual of the first fruits and the confession of the tithe, which more than filled up our time. Give a listen! Shabbat Shalom!!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky with Parsha Talk, . This week’s parashah, Ki Tetze [Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19], is the most mitzvah dense, with 74 commandments in 110 verses. A number of these commandments are problematic [in no particular order, the call to destroy Amalek (25:17-19), the stubborn and rebellious son (21:18-21), marriage with a woman captured in war (20:10-14); how the rabbis deal with them and how we might deal with them today was the focus of our conversation. But we also touched on some others, such as those which seem to be basic moral precepts: building a parapet (22:8), chasing away the mother bird when taking her young or eggs (22:6-7). We may have even considered some which seem morally neutral: the prohibition against sha’atnez [mixing wool and linen in clothing] and kilayim [mixing seeds of different species, even yoking two different kinds of animals for plowing (22:9-11). We hope you enjoy! Shabbat Shalom!!

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Shoftim [Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9] is the fifth parashah in the Book of Deuteronomy. It has a mitzvah density of about 40%, according to Eliot, who found this statistic in the Koren Torah with Rashi. Mitzvah density is the ration of mitzvot [commandments] to the number of p’suqim [verses]. So there are a lot of mitzvot in this parashah. We spent most of our time focusing on the king, and in particular, his writing of a copy of the Torah [the exact meaning of which is subject to much rabbinic comment]. We barely had time to more than mention some of the many other interesting commandments, but did manage to link the beginning and end of the parashah, thereby providing a metaphorical covering ot the entire parashah. Comments, criticisms, and questions are welcome at parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!

Parsha Talk: with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsky and Barry Chsler. Parashat Re’eh [Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17] is the beginning of the legislative core of Deuteronomy, which will extend over the next few weeks until the beginning of Parashat Ki Tavo [read this year on September 17]. One might look at it as the foundation of Israelite religious life, with laws calling for the centralization of cultic life “to the site that the Lord your God will choose” [12:5], the dietary laws [ch. 14], צדקה (charity) [ch. 15], and holidays [ch. 16]. We spent a lot of time talking about the centralization of the cult: what did it mean for our ancestors in ancient Israel, and in what ways it might be applicable or desirable today. This did not leave a lot of time to discuss other things, but there is always next year! Comments, questions, and criticisms may be directed to parshatalk@gmail.com. Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky discuss this week's parsha. Parashat Eqev [Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25], the third parashah of the book, has its share of quotables. The second paragraph of the Shema, recited by the faithful twice each day, is found here [Deuteronomy 11:13–21], as is the verse at the heart of the second blessing of Birkat Ha-mazon [Grace After Meals] [8:10], and the phrase [ha-el ha-gadol ha-gibbor v-ha-no’ra [10:17], by which God is addressed in the opening prayer of the Amidah, the prayer par excellence according to the rabbis. Other verses worthy of mention include “man does not live by bread alone” [8:3], the seven species which characterize the Land of Israel [8:8], and the variation of the question that Micah poses and answers about what God wants from us [Micah 6:6–8; cf. Deut. 10:12f]. We manage to at least touch on all of these! Shabbat Shalom!!

Amy Erlanger interviews people from Ramah Berkshires and Ramah Palmer (Ramah New England) before the opening ceremony. Following that, we have the ceremony. Is it possible that Amy knows some of these Palmer people? Find out....

Parsha Talk- with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. This morning I (BC) got up from shivah [the initial 7-day mourning period after a funeral] for my brother, Bruce, z”l [zikhrono livrakhah, may his memory be for a blessing]. What better way to rejoin the world than to sit on Zoom with colleagues and friends, Rabbis Eliot Malomet and Jeremy Kalmanofsky and discuss the parashah? This week’s parashah, Parashat Va-etchanan [Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11] features the Shema/V-ahavta [6:4–9] and a version of the Ten Commandments [5:6–17; cf. Exodus 20:2-14], as well as some verses which were taken into the liturgy. We began our conversation with a discussion of the Mosaic moment: Moses finds himself rebuffed for the last time in his quest to enter the Promised Land. God does not want to hear any more of this matter, leaving Moses with a crucial question — what should he do now? We follow up on last week’s conversation about Moses as Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses our Teacher, and discuss more precisel

Adat HaBogrim puts on the musical, Matilda.

The kids of Shorashim talk to and play games with Amy and Benji of Kol Ramah.

Amy and Benji talk to the Gan kids. Listen to them talk, sing, and make animal sounds.

Join this fast-paced discussion with our very own Shorashim and hear about their brand-new musical and more.

Benji, Amy and Charlotte discuss musicals, acting and more in this radio chat show.

The kids of Shorashim put on an original play about exams, revenge, and friendship.

Parsha Talk Devarim with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. We begin a new book of the Torah this week, Sefer Devarim, the Book of Deuteronomy, which always comes the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av. This year Shabbat is actually the 9th of Av, but we postpone the observance of the fast and the mourning rituals that accompany it until Sunday. A new book of the Torah often begins with great promise, but Rashi notes that the rabbis understand the opening words, “These are the words,” to actually be words of rebuke to B’nai Yisrael. This would make Parashat Devarim [Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22] fitting for the season of national mourning which commenced with the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz [observed this year on July 17th] and culminates with Tisha B’Av. We spend most of our conversation on situating the book in the context of the Torah as a whole and in the context of the life of Moses. The emphasis on mourning this year speaks to me on a personal level as I (BC) mourn the death of

The 4 teams are: Yellow Cheerios, Green Apple Jacks, Blue Frosted Flakes, and the winning team, Orange Reese's Puffs. These are their songs and cheers.

The kids of Chaverim talk to Kol Ramah about all kinds of things, including which movie is better: Zombies or Encanto?

Join host Benji and Gesher camper Harry Posner as they discuss the very latest in the world of sport.