How to Be a Responsible Jewish Adult

By Rabbi Nathan Farb When I find myself working with young students for their B’nai Mitzvah, they often ask me why we have all of these traditions for becoming B’nai Mitzvah. I tend to explain it like this: a bar or bat mitzvah is not something you have, but it’s something that you become. In […]

New Social Action Initiative of 2021: Sarah’s Meal

The Temple Emanuel Social Action Committee is happy to share our new Social Action Initiative of 2021: Sarah’s Meal. We are honored to be implementing this program for a very worthy cause. The Book of Genesis describes a time when Sarah willingly chose to rush and prepare a fresh, hot meal to give away to […]

Prayer for 2021:

RABBI NATHAN FARB Adonai, our Sovereign, our loving Parent, our Redeemer from all narrow places, Our Rock, our Restoration, and Source of our hope: You have led us out of Egypt (Mitzrayim), and the wilderness. Mitzrayim is the house of bondage, the Narrow Place, Far from freedom and full of oppression and want. You have […]

A little bit of light

Rabbi Nathan Farb

RABBI NATHAN FARB Chanukah was always a special time for me growing up. I have such fond memories of lighting the candles and saying the blessings with the whole family, mom included. I loved that their light would grow day by day until we had a full shining menorah. In my family, we would always […]

Eilu v’Eilu

As I write this in October, we are in the midst of political campaigning season. The rhetoric and accusations are in full swing. The past few Shabbat mornings, our prayers have been accompanied by a chorus of parading car horns cheering on one candidate or another, as they drive past our windows. As you read […]

High Holidays 2019

Isaiah 40:31 …but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. The High Holidays are nearly here! The Ritual Committee has been hard at work to create a warm and meaningful worship […]

Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony

This year, we are joining together with the City of McAllen to host the first ever McAllen Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony, to be held at the McAllen Public Library Auditorium, 4001 N. 23rd St., on Thursday, May 23, 2019, with a reception starting at 6:00 p.m. and the program to begin at 6:30 p.m. The […]