There are two kinds of people at a Seder: the ones who come for the meaning… and the ones who come prepared with terrible jokes. This year, we’re embracing both. Scroll on. Bring these to your Seder. Just don’t blame us when the eye rolls start. What did one Seder…
Nachmonides on the other hand explains that this beginning verse in Vayikra is a continuation of the end of parshas Pekudei. There the Torah states that the Cloud of Hashem enveloped the Mishkan both from the outer perimeter and even the interior of the Mishkan was infused with the…
A Jewish man is being knighted by the Queen of England. It’s a huge honor, and he’s carefully briefed on the ceremony. When he kneels before the Queen, he’s supposed to recite a short phrase in Latin to complete the knighting. So he practices. And practices. Weeks of practice. Latin…
We know that the nation traveled under the guidance of the special clouds that surrounded it. They were not allowed to go forward unless they were directed so by Hashem through the clouds. The Torah further states that if the clouds did not begin their preparatory formation to leave, then…
Jewish Joke of the Week: Stranded Moishe, Samuel, and Harry are driving through the desert when their car breaks down. With no cell service and the nearest town miles away, they decide they’ll have to walk. Each one takes something from the car for the journey.
Klal Yisroel made donations for the construction of the Mishkan and also for purchasing sacrifices. There was a specific amount to be given for the offerings, a half shekel. The Torah clearly states that each and every individual must give the exact same amount.
Purim at The Jewish Experience 🎭✨ From tiny superheroes to young professionals in full costume mode, Purim showed up in full color this year. Between the Olami crowd and our…
Freda and Moshe Levy win $8 million in the lottery. Overnight, life changes. They buy a huge mansion and, naturally, hire a butler. One day they tell him, “We’re inviting the Cohens for dinner tonight. Please set the table for four. We’ll be out all day.”
The Kohanim that served in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash wore extremely fashionable clothing. Even a superficial perusing of the parsha will clue you in on their wardrobe. Was exquisite clothing such a necessity to fulfill their obligations such as was required? After all, the main objective was to…
Jennifer Dechtman’s connection to The Jewish Experience is deeply personal and unexpectedly full circle. Long before TJE became a familiar name, Jennifer felt profoundly supported by Rabbi Ahron Wasserman and his wife, Hadassah, during her early years in Denver. “They were a big part of my time here,” she shared,…
Connection When It Matters MostConversations with Madison Esses & Aaron Polster Madison Esses: Finding Belonging through Invitation For Madison Esses, finding Olami wasn’t just about learning more Judaism. It was…
Jewish Joke of the Week: The Cinema Critic A man walks into a movie theater… followed by an elephant. The ticket clerk blinks. “Sir. You cannot bring an elephant into…
The Mishkan was an architect’s dream. Everything was measured and ‘clicked’ together perfectly. Tapestries and beautifully woven embroideries adorned the ceiling of the Mishkan. The inner altar was made of pure gold and the draperies that surrounded the external area of the Mishkan were exquisite. The vessels that were contained…
Judaism You Want to Show Up ForA Conversation with Adam and Barbara Moskowitz Adam and Barbara Moskowitz are leaders in the Denver Jewish community, partners in life, and deeply committed…
A Jewish grandmother calls her grandson to make sure he knows how to find her new apartment. She does not trust GPS. GPS never raised a child, never hosted a Passover, never once remembered who likes the end piece of the kugel. “Listen carefully,” she says. “You come to the…
This Week in Pictures: a snapshot of Jewish life in motion. From Rabbi Leban sharing Clean Speech at the Aish Conference, to a thoughtful and connecting evening with Laya Saul, to the Olami mentorship group gathered around a table for dinner and learning, this week held learning, conversation, and community…
When Robert Warren and Elsa Sackett Warren first found The Jewish Experience, they were searching for connection. Newly engaged and new to Denver, Robert was looking for ways to engage with Jewish life that felt deeper than what he had known growing up, yet still welcoming and accessible. “I was…
The Torah discusses receiving the Torah in two different parshios. In the previous parsha, Yisro, Moshe returns with Hashem’s offer to give us the Torah and with that acceptance we merited that the Torah was given to us on Mt. Sinai. However, at the end of this parsha certain offerings…
A man adopts a new dog. Not just any dog. A very Jewish dog. He names him Einstein and proudly tells everyone how smart he is. After a few weeks of training, he finally invites a neighbor over to witness Einstein’s brilliance. “Einstein!” he calls. The dog trots in, alert,…
Moshe had two sons Gershom and Eliezer. Gershom was named for Moshe’s seclusion when he was a stranger in a foreign land, Midian. The name Eliezer alluded to Moshe’s miraculous escape from Pharoah’s executioner. Even though he was slated to die Hashem protected him and he was able to get…
