EDUCATION
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Trust sound reasoning — that feeling in your gut might just be gas – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
It is generally agreed that truth is a good thing to pursue. Truth is used to provide rationale for policy. Arguably, truth is the basis for laws, governance, and general rules for everything from corporate policies to Temple by-laws. Mark Twain popularized the quote, ‘There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.’ Mark Twain popularized the quote,…
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AI sleuths Ki Tissa while Rabbi Jen notes the Purim tradition of gift-giving and good works – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
As we enter the joyous month of Adar, and in honor of the upside-down silliness often accompanying the holiday of Purim, I asked artificial Intelligence (a.k.a. “AI”) to come up with a Torah teaching for our next Shabbat together that combined sitting in a Starbucks and writing this month’s column. Here is a snippet of the Al version: I asked…
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Support, service and guidance are key reasons why I joined the Temple. What are yours? – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
People choose to become members of a religious organization for a variety of reasons. These may include the search for a sense of community, pursuit of spiritual growth or personal accountability, access to support during difficult times, the opportunity to serve others and live by a set of moral values, and to deepen their connection to faith and belief. Religious…
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On Tu B’shvat, we contemplate the new growth of nature and our role in sustaining creation – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
Happy Tu B’shvat, the Jewish Birthday of the Trees! This year, the holiday (15 of Shevat on the Jewish calendar) begins on Wednesday evening, Feb. 12, and extends through sundown Thursday, Feb. 13. In Israel — and other areas with a Mediterranean climate — almond trees begin to bloom and spring is in the air. In Israel — and other…
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Hanukkah arrives during the darkest days of Kislev, adding joy and warmth to the season – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
The recently concluded week before Thanksgiving gave my Ohio family the opportunity to fly out of town and reunite with relatives on the East Coast for both a simcha (joyous celebration) and an unveiling ceremony (memorial following the one-year anniversary of the death of my beloved Aunt Becky). With gratitude for sharing those occasions with family, my thoughts shifted to…
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Zane continues Bar Mitzvah project with spice jars and paper hamsa to benefit Israel – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
Zane Winter has emerged from the studio with new craft items for his Bar Mitzvah project to benefit Magen David Adom, the Israeli emergency medical service providing lifesaving efforts during Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas. Zane began his work shortly after the October 7 terrorist attack against Israel. He hopes to continue to share images of love and peace as…
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A tiny aleph in Leviticus notes great significance about an important meeting – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
During recent Shabbatot, we’ve been reading from the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus is the third book of the Torah, and is told primarily through Hashem’s speech to Moses about how Moses should instruct the Israelites. This is a break in form from the more narratively skewed books of Genesis and Exodus. Through Hashem’s words to Moses, the Israelites are told…
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Speakers, audience, highlight acts of resistance in Yom HaShoah event at UHC sanctuary – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
Thanks to Scott Skillman for organizing and to Ken Turetzky for emceeing such a meaningful Yom HaShoah program April 16 in our UHC sanctuary. The theme of the program was not only remembrance of the Holocaust and other atrocities, but learning about acts of resistance, while encouraging us to continue to resist oppression in our world today. It was so…
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We’ve again counted the omer, recognizing the glory of freedom and the beauty of the Torah – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
We count the omer during the period between Pesach and Shavuot. With Pesach and Shavuot now concluded, we’ve completed the period of the Jewish calendar during which we count the omer. This ancient timekeeping mechanism finds new life each year as we number the days between these two holidays. In ancient times, we used an actual omer — a piece…
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What are your talents? – United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute
Betsy Frank is UHC para-rabbinic fellow and president. As the academic year ends for our students in K-12 and college, I’ve started to think about all the hope and talents these students possess. But developing talents doesn’t end with formal schooling. So, what are your talents? Student Rabbi Rocki Schy offers succinct homilies and is a pro when reading Torah.…
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