Midway Jewish Center

Mazel Tov to Rabbi Dahlia, who will be returning to Midway lead High Holiday Services once again. Make plans now to join us and hear her Torah and enjoy her rabbinic leadership.

We’re thrilled to share that Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein will be joining JTS as the new Director of Recruitment and Admissions for Religious and Ritual Leadership and Assistant Dean of the Rabbinical School!

Dahlia is a proud JTS alum, having graduated from List College, the William Davidson School, and The Rabbinical School. She will be responsible for leading the recruitment and admissions process for The Rabbinical School, the H. L. Miller Cantorial School, Master's in Spiritual Care and Counseling, and the Master's in Ritual Leadership. She will also support first-year students as an academic advisor and assistant dean, guiding them through the transition into rabbinical school.

Welcome, Dahlia!

A pre-Shabbat message from Rabbi Joel Levenson:

This week we read Parashat Chukat-Balak, where King Balak sees the Israelites not as human beings, but as a threat to be feared and opposed. Long before there is conflict, there is a story—a narrative that transforms a people into a menace.

That lesson feels painfully relevant today.

This week I joined more than 700 rabbis from across North America in signing an open letter condemning the use of dehumanizing language against supporters of Israel. Reasonable people can disagree, but when supporters of Israel are described as “monsters” or portrayed through familiar antisemitic tropes and insinuations, every Jew should pay attention. History teaches that demonization is often the first step down a dangerous path.

https://tinyurl.com/mrxf7r5w

Yet Jewish history also teaches resilience. Again and again, those who sought to weaken the Jewish people only strengthened our commitment to Judaism, Israel, and one another.

As the Psalmist reminds us: “Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.”

History is not only something we remember. It is something we learn from.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Joel Levenson

Over 700 rabbis denounce Mamdani’s AIPAC ‘monsters’ speech as ‘dangerous’ to Jews Leaders of prominent NY congregations, variety of denominations say mayor has 'put a target on the backs of American Jews'

Celebrating the Class of 2026!

Last Friday night, we gathered for our annual Senior Sendoff Shabbat, blessing and honoring our graduating seniors as they prepare for their next chapter. We are so proud of all they have accomplished and excited for the adventures ahead.

Mazal tov, Class of 2026—may you go from strength to strength!