This Week in Pictures: An elevated appreciation

Some nights just feel a little more elevated.

Last week, our Family Experience team hosted a VIP & Donor Appreciation Evening — a beautifully curated night of gratitude, connection, and seriously good food. Think multi-course dining from East Side Kosher Deli, each course thoughtfully paired with exceptional wines, and a room filled with the people who help make everything we do possible.

It was intimate, warm, and full of the kind of conversations you wish you could bottle.

We’re sharing a glimpse into the evening below… but fair warning: this is one of those “wish you were there” galleries.

(And if you weren’t there this time — we’d love to have you at the next one.) 🍷

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When is Night?

            The sacrifice termed the Peace Offering or the ‘Shlamim’ is unlike other offerings because its allowed time for consumption is the day it was brought, the following night and the day after. All other sacrifices are only for that day and the following night based upon Torah standards.

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Let’s Talk

The halacha is that only a Kohen can pronounce the impurity of Tzora’as upon either a person, his clothing or his home. Nonetheless, when the Torah mentions that one’s house can be infected with the spiritual impurity of Tzora’as the owner approaches the Kohen and states that it appears as though a sign of Tzora’as has been noticed.

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Jewish Joke of the Week: The Engineer and his Rabbi

An aerospace company is building a next-generation fighter jet… and every single test ends the same way: the wings snap clean off mid-flight.

They try everything. Stronger alloys. New structural designs. Reinforcements. Nothing works.

The chief engineer, running on fumes and coffee, goes to his rabbi. “Rabbi, I’m out of ideas. We’ve tried everything. Every test… same failure, same exact spot.”

The rabbi leans in. “Same place every time?”

“Every time.”

The rabbi strokes his beard. “Can I come see it?”

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To Be or Not To Be

One of the most special sacrifices is that of the burnt offering. The entire animal is consumed on the altar, obviously an indication of absolute and exclusive consideration to serve Hashem. Only the outer skin, the hide is not given to Hashem but rather presented to the Kohanim, the priests, our representatives in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash.

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Ascending Forever

  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 glory of Hashem.

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