Rabbi Avner Shapiro ('88) Rabbi Avner Shapiro ('88) currently teaches at Yeshivas Toras Chaim in Baltimore. He is the son of Miriam and Rabbi David Shapiro, former Maimonides School principal, and has three alumni siblings. We are familiar with the  tekiah  and  teruah  blasts of the  shofar  on  Rosh HaShanah . In  Parshat B’ha’alotcha , we have a  mitzvah  of blowing these blasts in a different context. The  parsha  contains the  mitzvah  of blowing these blasts on various occasions during the time of the  Mikdash  with silver  chatzotzrot , trumpets. Amongst the occasions where a  tekiah  is blown are when the nation gathers all together, and in honor of  Shabbat  and festivals. The Ramban explains the difference between a  tekiah  and a  teruah . The  teruah  represents the attribute of  din , judgment, which is rooted in  yi...

Rabbi Oren Simhi Middle and Upper School  Limudei Kodesh  Teacher Rabbi Simhi was recently chosen by the students as this year's recipient of the Class of 1977 Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence. In addition to teaching Talmud and Navi, Rabbi Simhi serves as a tenth grade advisor. He is the proud father of four Maimo students. In this week’s  parsha, Parshat Naso , we encounter one of the most beloved and familiar  mitzvot  in Jewish life:  Birkat Kohanim , the priestly blessing. The  Torah  says: דבר אל אהרן ואל בניו לאמור, כה תברכו את בני ישראל, אמור להם (במדבר ו, כב–כג) Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: So shall you bless the children of Israel. Say to them… (Numbers 6:22–23)   In  Sephardic  communities in the United States, as well as  Ashkenazi  communities in Israel, we are privileged to hear this blessing every day from the  kohanim : "May the L-rd bless you and keep you…" Before giving this blessing, t...