Al Kustanowitz
Welcoming Visitors in the Synagogue
Posted by Al Kustanowitz | Tags: Sukkot, Sukkot, Vayera, Sefer Bereshit, Humor, Sukkot, Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret / Simchat Torah, Life Reflections
This Sukkot, we had the honor of hosting a relative who happens to be an esteemed rabbi and scholar. On the first day he wanted to get to shul at the start of services, a goal that I strongly support but don’t often achieve. So I sent him off, with etrog and lulav in hand, and a plan to connect a...
Writing Your Own Torah - On Your Wedding Day and Every Day
Posted by Al Kustanowitz | Tags: Life Cycle, Wedding / Anniversary, Life Reflections
One of the 613 mitzvot, in fact the last of the 613, is that every Jew should write a copy of the Torah. It is derived from the passage in Parshat Vayelech that says “V’atem kitvu lachem et hashira hazot” – “So now, write this song for yourselves.” Our sages derive from this verse that every Jew...
