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The Danger of Sacrificing What Matters Most
In this week’s double Torah portion, Acharey Mot and Kidoshim, the Torah tells us: “Say further to the Israelite people: Anyone among the Israelites, or among the strangers residing in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall be put to death; the people of the land shall pelt him with stones. And…
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Exploring the Human Connection to Creation in Bereshit
This week’s parsha, Bereshit, describes, among other things, the creation of the world. The creation story is partly confusing, sometimes repetitive, and seemingly missing information. Thus it makes sense that according to many classical commentaries the Torah’s creation story is not literal, but rather its purpose is to teach us important lessons and foundational concepts,…
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Kedoshim 2021
This week we read the double parsha of Acharey Mot and Kedoshim. Acharey Mot deals mostly with the laws of Yom Kippur and forbidden sexual relations and Kidoshim is filled with a wide variety of laws, both ritual and interpersonal. In Kedoshim the Torah states: “You shall not be unfair in judgment, do not favor…
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Finding the Balance Between Nature and the Divine
In this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, we find two commandments about trees. (1) Do not cut down a fruit tree even in war, and (2) Do not plant an ashera trees near the altar. The commandment not to cut down a tree is a warning against wanton destruction which in jewish law is forbidden by…
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From Insecurity to Strength: Moshe’s Journey of Growth
Moshe’s heart is in the right place, he takes action to defend the weak and cares about those who are suffering. Nevertheless, for three reasons Moshe does not seem like a very good choice as leader. (1) He thinks himself incapable, telling God over and over that this is the case. But it is in…
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The True Challenge of the Akedah
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayera Avrohom faces the most difficult of his ten tests, to sacrifice his child. The Akedah is perhaps the most perplexing chapter in the Torah. How could Avrohom agree to do what was forbidden? When Cain killed Abel it can be argued that Cain did not know it was wrong.…
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How Yaakov’s Flexibility Can Inspire Our Community
In this week’s parsha, Toldot, the Torah tells us Rivka gave birth to two twin brothers, Yaakov and Esav. Esav was a hairy person, a hunter and a man of the field and forest. Jacob was “ish tam,” “a simple man who dwelled in the tent.” Rash”i says “ish tam” means, “Someone who says what…
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Love Your Neighbor: A Call to Action in a World Full of Tragedy
What should our response be to living in a time in which we are aware of so many tragedies around the world as they happen? The seminal book of Musar, Misilat Yisharim, writes that we must always ask, “Mah chovati baolami”, What is my obligation in this world?” Everything which happens is a test for…
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Beyond Social Distancing
We are blessed with a community that is vibrant and diverse. Many Shuls would be overjoyed to have the liveliness that hundreds of young professionals bring to a community, the wisdom of dozens of accomplished thinkers and politicians, and the commitment that many vatikin, those who have been members of the community for decades, bring.…
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How Hearing and Sharing Narratives Brings Transformation
This past shabbat i spoke of Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law. The Torah tells us Yitro heard all that God did for the Jewish people in redeeming them from Egypt and came to moses and the Jewish people in the desert at Mount Sinai. A few verses latter Moses tells Yitro the story of God…
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The Beauty of Community and Prayer in Judaism
This week’s parsha is Mishpatim, which is filled with dozens of interpersonal laws. The Jewish People are a nation who have not worshiped God before. They were slaves for several generations in a polytheistic land. Since the Torah was just given to them wouldn’t it make more sense to follow it with a parsha of…
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Navigating Tradition and Change
The Voice of Women in Holy Song and Prayer In the beginning of this past week’s Torah portion,Toldot, the Torah writes, “These are the generations of Isaac…” Surprisingly, we are told in the next verse that there are no generations, that Rivka, like each of our ancestors, was barren. The Torah comes to describe the…
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The Balance of Mercy and Justice in Judaism
This week’s torah portion, Mishpatim, literally means “laws,” and contains a large array of interpersonal civil commandments and regulations. Just before this portion the Torah teaches about the building of an altar to G-d. The altar, which symbolizes relationship and peace between the Jews and G-d, must be built out of whole stones, since…
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Embracing Both Tradition and Intellectual Inquiry
In this week’s parsha God tells Yitzchak He will bless him, “because Avrohom listened to My voice, and guarded my commandments and my Torah.” According to Rash”i this verse tells us that Avrohom actually kept the entire Torah even though it was not yet commanded. The Kabbalah says that this was possible since…
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Human Dignity and the Door to Repentance
The Talmud tells the following story in tractate Berachot 10a: “There were hooligans in Rabbi Meir’s neighborhood who caused him a great deal of anguish. Rabbi Meir prayed for God to have mercy on them, that they should die. Rabbi Meir’s wife, Berurya, said to him: What is your thinking? On what basis do you…
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The Torah’s Call to Combat Bias and Lashon Hara
This week we read the double parsha of Acharey Mot and Kedoshim. Acharey Mot deals mostly with the laws of Yom Kippur and forbidden sexual relations and Kidoshim is filled with a wide variety of laws, both ritual and interpersonal. In Kedoshim the Torah states: “You shall not be unfair in judgment, do not favor…
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The Golden Calf and the Freedom Found in Limitation
In this week’s Torah portion, just 40 days after receiving the Divine Revelation at Mount Sinai, the Jewish people become anxious that Moses their leader will not return from on top of the mountain and they make for themselves a golden calf. In the midst of their sensual, noisy, Dionysian worship of the calf…