About Tifereth Israel Greenport

Congregation Tifereth Israel is a Historic Synagogue on the North Fork in Greenport. It is an egalitarian, inclusive, Conservative synagogue committed to strengthening Jewish values, learning and spiritual well-being as well as building a close, warm and supportive community for all who wish to join.

“Elections”

It’s been a hustling and bustling time — from intense High Holidays observances to a season of elections, from a time of seeking forgiveness for wrong past choices, to a time of making important new choices. Shortly after the High Holidays, I flew to Israel to see family and friends, and to prepare our next interfaith peace event in February. I found myself here also in the midst of a heated election campaign, this time [...]

“Elections”2018-10-25T21:45:30-04:00

“Local and Global Sukkot of Peace”

“And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of living water. And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdsmen, saying: 'The water is ours.' And he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. And they digged another well, and they strove for that also. And he called the name of it Sitnah. And he moved from there, and digged another well; and for that they strove not. And [...]

“Local and Global Sukkot of Peace”2018-09-26T20:35:15-04:00

“Praying Attention”

Many explanations make clear why the Torah starts with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The letter Bet has many meanings that can justify it being chosen to inaugurate the Holy Scriptures. One of the most recognized explanations of the Kli Yakar — 16th century Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz — is a short paragraph in his long commentary on the first verse of the Torah. He quotes Proverbs 9:1: “Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its [...]

“Praying Attention”2018-08-26T21:31:38-04:00

“Temple Rising and Israel’s Nationality Bill”

This year, Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the month of Av, was observed on Sunday, the 10th of Av, because public mourning and fasting are prohibited on Shabbat. It is a day of mourning for the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. Thus, we are encouraged to read the book of Lamentations (Eikha): “How does the city sit solitary, that was full of people! How is she become as a widow! She that was great among the nations, [...]

“Temple Rising and Israel’s Nationality Bill”2020-01-27T12:00:43-05:00

“A Limb of a Living Animal”

Earlier this year, when we were dealing with the issue of a path to citizenship for the so-called Dreamers, children brought to this country by illegal immigrants, I wrote “Let My People Stay.” In my essay, I compared the discussion about immigration to that of abortion. I claimed that America may secure its borders, but it cannot ignore the life that developed in its womb, of people willing to leap forward through a bloody door in [...]

“A Limb of a Living Animal”2018-06-27T16:20:11-04:00

“On the Shoulders of Giants”

The day before we completed the counting of the 49 days of the Omer, we escorted Arthur Levin — Aaron ben Enoch z”l — on his last journey. This occurred just before Shavuot — the holiday of receiving the Torah. In various places throughout the text, the Talmud claims that in studying Torah — beginning with Moses, who was the closest to the original teachings on Mount Sinai — there has been a “deterioration of [...]

“On the Shoulders of Giants”2018-05-25T21:38:08-04:00

“Invigorated Israel” 

“The days of our years is seventy years, and when in vigor, eighty years; most of them are but travail and vanity. They pass by speedily, and we are gone.” Psalm 90:10 is a song marked equally by fear and trust, of terrible death and tender friendliness. Commentators have noted that the reference to “seventy years” is usually associated with a national fall and rise — tragedy and hope. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the seventy years in the [...]

“Invigorated Israel” 2018-04-26T11:07:48-04:00

“The Sheep and the Goat”

When we sit around the Passover table every year, we don’t normally ask ourselves whether this is the shank bone of a sheep or of a goat. According to the Torah, before the Israelites left Egypt, God commanded, “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; you shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats.” (Exodus12:5) The lamb (seh in Hebrew) simply means yearling, one that didn’t yet mate. [...]

“The Sheep and the Goat”2018-03-28T16:32:28-04:00

“Unfinished Rabbi”

In the past year, I’ve been meeting with the Judaism and Art group, comprised of working artists from our congregation, to discuss artistic expression related to Judaic concepts. On Sunday, March 25, we will mount an exhibit of each member’s contribution. The artists will speak briefly about their works and the themes they explored. Painfully missing will be our dear friend Bob Strimban A”H, who passed away last month. Bob was a giant artist, who [...]

“Unfinished Rabbi”2018-02-26T19:11:57-05:00
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