Once a Month ♦ Just For Yourself ♦ Just For Your Soul

Join us as we discuss
God and the Passover Story
with Rabbi Michael Mishkin

Meeting will be held in-person at Temple Beth Israel. 

Moses is barely mentioned in the Hagaddah because we are supposed to focus on God's role in the Passover story. On the positive side, in the story of the Exodus God shows Godself to be a moral and powerful God who cares about how we act in the world. God opposes slavery and oppression, and supports those who are exploited and abused. But with God being such a central character in the story, it raises many questions about God as well. Why did God wait so long to intervene? Why did God need Moses or any human agent to go up against Pharaoh? Did God use too much power? And, if God was so outraged that God involved Godself to free the Israelites, why has God not intervened to stop other acts of oppression and murder?

Rabbi Michael Mishkin, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, is the rabbi at Temple Beth Israel in Port Washington, New York.  Rabbi Mishkin attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning a B.A. in American History.  Following graduation, he studied at Mechon Pardes in Jerusalem, and at JTS, receiving his rabbinic ordination in 2001.  From 2001-2005, Rabbi Mishkin served as the Rabbi and Executive Director of the Hillel at Northwestern University.  After his time at Hillel, Rabbi Mishkin served as the Associate Rabbi at Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah in Wilmette, Illinois.  He has served on the UJA-Federation SYNEGRY Long Island Rabbinic Advisory Council (LIRAC), on the executive committee of Long Island Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods (LI-CAN), and currently chairs the Interfaith Clergy Association of Port Washington.  Rabbi Mishkin is married to Tamara Noble, and is the father of Lily, Ben, & Nathan.

About Rosh Chodesh:
What is Rosh Chodesh? A special day that Jewish feminists have "reclaimed" for feminine spirituality. Tradition says that as a reward for our faithfulness, God gave women Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the new month, and even exempted us from our usual household duties. Take a morning just for yourself, and for Jewish study and renewal. The Port Washington Rosh Chodesh Group meets at the start of every new Jewish month.   We are a warm, friendly inter-generational group of Jewish women (men welcome, too!) exploring new and timeless topics and texts.

The Rosh Chodesh Group is jointly sponsored by The Community Synagogue, Port Jewish Center, and Temple Beth Israel.