Abraham sat at the entrance of his tent ready to welcome guests. Yishar koach to our Or Zarua hosts for Shabbat Across OZ who are preparing their Shabbat tables for those who signed on to be their guests. We are… Read More »
Parashat Lekh Lekha God’s first command to Abraham was Lekh Lekha, go forth, go become the unique soul and self only you can be in the world. Then God told Abraham and Sarah, in earshot: go create a nation, make… Read More »
Parashat Noah Noah was a family man. God called him “tamim תמים” – pure and whole. He wasn’t famous and not described as great among men; he was not גדול הדור, the GOAT or GREAT according to the Torah. Why… Read More »
Israelis aboard the FlyDubai flight broke out into song when they were rescued from the clutches of a suicidal terrorist who was looking to crash the plane and kill everyone. What a nes, a public miracle, that the plane dropped… Read More »
Shabbat Sukkot Sukkot is the third of the shalosh regalim cycle. Each year we celebrate three yom tovs, or “chag/chagim” in the Torah – Pesah, Shavuot and Sukkot. Did we not just celebrate a new beginning at Rosh HosShanah? We… Read More »
Shoftim: The King Is Commanded to Write a Sefer Torah When the Temple stood, once every seven years, at the festival of Hakhel, the gathering of the men, women and children of Israel, the king would read the Torah aloud… Read More »
D’VAR TORAH Parashat Re’eh – Birkat HaHodesh This week I read several colleagues’ Divrei Torah who all highlighted the theme of legislating servitude in ancient Israel. How could it be that we left Egypt and now we allow slaves?! This… Read More »
D’VAR TORAH Parashat Ekev Sometimes a great dish of ice cream or the best dark chocolate can be a great source of comfort. A good kiddush works that way, too. This Shabbat I am looking forward to sharing in both… Read More »
From Wood and Stone to the Aleph – Tav of Rebuilt Jews & Zion The Acrostic of Return Rabbi Scott Bolton · Congregation Or Zarua Tisha B’Av 5786 On a day when we sit on the ground amid a world… Read More »
D’VAR TORAH Parashat Mattot-Masei – Birkat HaHodesh Station Stops and Sensing the Wow I’ve shifted my understanding to see grace as the power planted within us to stop and sense the wow. Please click HERE to read my D’var Torah… Read More »