At any Yizkor service, mourners are called on to stand together – separated in their grief. This year we are “together apart” more than ever.  Rabbi Cosgrove urges us to follow the examples of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, reaching beyond our own pain of loss to help ease the grief of others. 

For more information about services and programs at Park Avenue Synagogue, visit our website at https://pasyn.org.

Rabbi Witkovsky and Rabbinic Intern Viktoria Bedo discuss the disturbing Sotah ritual described in parashat Naso. Is there any meaning to be made from this oppressive ritual? And perhaps most importantly, can the way we treat this Biblical account of privilege and oppressions teach us anything about how to address such issues today?

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This week we begin the book of B’midbar, and we do it with a census of the Israelites (or some of them). Rabbi Witkovsky interviews Benny Witkovsky, a Sociology PhD student who comes from a great family. They talk about the censuses in the Torah and the United States and try to tease some meaning out of those numbers.

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In honor of our annual “Seminary Shabbat,” Rabbi Cosgrove tracks the history of the American Jewish experience through the seven chancellors of the Seminary and raises the question of what sits on the docket of the soon to be announced next chancellor. 

For more information about services and programs at Park Avenue Synagogue, visit our website at https://pasyn.org.

Rabbi Witkovsky discusses a strange phrase that appears three times in B'har. What does security in our land have to do with the way we treat one another? Listen to find out!

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How do we respond to the loss of occasions and opportunities during the pandemic? Rabbi Cosgrove advises us how to acknowledge each other’s sorrow and be present for one another as we gather our strength to step into an uncertain future. 

For more information about services and programs at Park Avenue Synagogue, visit our website at https://pasyn.org.

Rabbi Witkovsky finds a bit of wisdom from the parsha to help us address the religious needs of our current situation. He also talks with Cantor Rachel Brook, Dr. Matthew Holman, and their daughter Lila about the holidays we love and which ones we are still working on.

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