Rabbi Blog

Dear QJC Family,

Pesach was a point at which we experienced yuntif in a way we had never before. Being asked to stay at home during a time that is supposed to be full of simcha is very challenging. As we have counted the weeks towards Shavuot through Sefirat Ha-Omer, it looks like we will find ourselves in a similar situation where we will be celebrating yuntif from home. While Shavuot is meant to be a time centered around learning Torah together as a community, we sadly will most likely not be able to share that experience together.

In light of this situation, I would like to put together a QJC Shavuos Reader. I invite you to write a Dvar Torah you would like to share with the community, to be published in a booklet that can be printed out before Shavuos and can allow us to study Torah "together" during Yom Tov.

Ideally, please submit articles by Sunday night, May 24 to rabbik@myqjc.org. My hope would be to share this collection of Divrei Torah by that Wednesday so that everyone has time to print.
Submissions can be as short as 200 words and as long as 2000 words, but there's flexibility in both directions.
Please ensure submissions are proofread and are appropriate halachically/philosophically for our community, although we will edit where needed.

Possible topics can include (but are not limited to):
-Ten Commandments
-Revelation of the Torah/Experience of Har Sinai
-Eating Dairy on Shavuot and other customs
-Sefer Ruth
-Conversion
-Yom Tov
-Describe a particular mitzvah you connect to
-The role Torah and mitzvot play in your life

Please feel to reach out to me with any questions - I would love to be able to ensure that as many people as possible are able to contribute.

Kol tuv,

Rabbi Judah Kerbel


Please be aware of the following Pre-Shavuot shiurim available through Yeshiva University that are available to the public: