High Holidays begin Sept 25th (See Below for more information)
Shalom & Welcome to
Rabbi Dina-Hasida Mercy's Website!
Where Judaism is relevant, meaningful and joyful.
My Philosophy – “You don’t have to complete the task, but neither are you excused from undertaking it.”
My Philosophy – “I think Jewish education should be fun. I love Hebrew and continue to find it fascinating. I encourage my students to think critically; they don’t have to agree with everything, but at least have an understanding of various viewpoints.”
My Philosophy – “I want to help Jews and non-Jews celebrate their loving unions. Our world and our people are so wounded. There are many hurts inflicted out of this woundedness. If we want to stop the cycle, at some point, I believe we have to make an active choice to do no more harm”.
My Philosophy – “I would like to see a kinder approach. Judaism is not a missionary religion, but we can listen sympathetically to the ones who knock on the door.”
This is my interpretation of this very important part of our Liturgy. It can be seen as a reminder to us all that we bear ultimate responsibility for our world and its environment. If we do not act appropriately, we can have an impact on the earth.
My Philosophy – “The Jewish Chaplaincy Society believes in supporting the many Jews and their families who may wish to express their Jewishness in a non-synagogue setting.”
My Philosophy – “The Jewish tradition is that a rabbi is not paid for providing spiritual service, rather the rabbi is compensated for the time taken away from earning a living.”
Welcoming the Shabbat
You may ask why the first mitzvah of Shabbat is the kindling of lights. That is because Shabbat is actually a celebration of the Creator and His Creation. G‑d’s creation of the world follows a seven-day cycle, which peaks each Shabbat and begins anew. At Creation, the first thing that was brought into being was light. Therefore, it is appropriate to kindle lights at the start of Shabbat in commemoration of the first light that was created.
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Our Most Recent Blogs
Rosh HaShanah Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.” Rosh HaShanah (literally, “Head of the Year”) is the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, rejoicing and serious introspection.The holiday marks the beginning of a 10-day period, known as the Yamim Nora-im (“Days of Awe” or “High Holidays”), ushered in by Rosh HaShanah and culminating with Yom…
The facts and nothing but the facts about Shavuot.
Let me teach you a bit about the origins of the food customs associated with the eight days of Hanukkah – potato latkes. Early texts recount the rebellion, the recapture of the temple and rededication ceremony, but references to the “miracle” connected to Hanukkah do not appear until nearly 600 years later. We learn that the remaining supply of consecrated…
Passover or Pesach is the second most important holy day of the Jewish year and The Seder is the most commonly celebrated Jewish ritual, performed by Jews all over the world. Passover commemorates the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt and the “passing over” of the forces of destruction, or the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites, when…
Important Upcoming Dates
Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kipper/Sukkot
Rosh Hashanah
Begins sunset of Sunday, September 25, 2022
Ends nightfall of Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of G d as king.
Yom Kippur
Begins sunset of Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Ends nightfall of Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Yizkor is recited on Yom Kippur, Wednesday, October 5
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year—the day on which we are closest to G d and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement—“For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G d” (Leviticus 16:30).
Sukkot
Begins sunset of Sunday, October 9, 2022
Ends nightfall of Sunday, October 16, 2022
The seven days of Sukkot—celebrated by dwelling in the sukkah, taking the Four Kinds, and rejoicing—is the holiday when we expose ourselves to the elements in covered huts, commemorating G d's sheltering our ancestors as they traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land. The Four Kinds express our unity and our belief in G d’s omnipresence. Coming after the solemn High Holidays, it is a time of joy and happiness
NOTE: The Jewish calendar date begins at sundown of the night beforehand. Thus all holiday observances begin the night before, as listed. The exception to this rule is most fast days, which begin at dawn of the date listed (aside for Tisha b’Av and Yom Kippur which also begin the night before). Jewish calendar dates conclude at nightfall.