Midbar Kodesh Temple News

The on-going schedule of classes include Judaism 101 with Rabbi Bradley Tecktiel. This class is tailored for adults wanting to enhance their Jewish education or for students new to Judaism. Rabbi Tecktiel is happy to speak with students interested in conversion. Please contact him at RAVT@midbarkodesh.org. Talmud Tuesday, also with Rabbi Tecktiel, takes place every Tuesday morning at the synagogue at 10:00 a.m. Cantor Daniel Gale hosts beginning Hebrew courses on Tuesday ev

Hannah Lili Hoffman, daughter to Midbar Kodesh Temple members Shari and Phil Hoffman and sister to Alexandra and Maddie, will be called to the Torah at the synagogue on January 11, 2020. The family will be joined in celebration by Hannah's grandparents, Arleen and Marc Schaeffer from Surprise, Arizona, and Craig and Linda Hoffman from Parrish, Florida. Family and friends from Las Vegas, Henderson, California, Arizona, Florida, Missouri and Georgia will honor Hannah on this s

We come to the end of Chanukah this weekend. Our bellies are filled with latkes and sufganiot, our spirits are filled with joy and light. My mind now turns to one of the most important lessons of Chanukah. It is not the miracle of the oil or the miracle of the defeat of the Assyrian Greeks. For me, one of the most important lessons is the miracle of our survival as a Jewish people despite the many evil Empires that have tried to destroy us, but have themselves been swept away

When it comes to Chanukah, we are all familiar with the custom of lighting candles. We know the story of the battle between the Macabees and the Assyrian Greeks. We have read the tale of the cruse of oil, enough for one night’s lighting, that lasted for eight nights. We are also aware that there is a special toy and game we use on this holiday called “dreidl” in Yiddish and “S’vivon” in Hebrew. But what are the origins of the game and why do we play with the cute little spi

Congratulations to Nathaniel Reid Diamond, son of Midbar Kodesh Temple members Kevin and Sharon Diamond and brother to Talia, on graduating with honors with a BS in Strategic Communications and Public Relations from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. Nate has been recognized by the Order of Omega Honor Society, served as President of the Interfraternity Council and served as Education Chair for Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI).

This week’s Torah portion is a continuation of Jacob and his family’s return to Be’er Sheva from Haran. Jacob knows that his brother Esau still holds great anger against him for having stolen their father Isaac’s first-born blessing. Knowing this, he sends some scouts ahead to get a feel for Esau’s state of mind. It turns out that at that very moment Esau is on his way to confront Jacob and his family. When Jacob hears this, he fears for his life and decides to separate fr

Midbar Kodesh Temple’s Sr. USYers recently participated in the Children’s Heart Foundation "Adopt a Family" program. They shopped and wrapped gifts for their adopted family and then participated in a project called "CJ’s Traveling Heart Healing Cards for Kids" where they wrote positive messages of support to children that will be delivered to local hospitals. The holidays are a special time filled with holiday meals spent with family, get-togethers with friends, and shopping