Answering Antisemitism: Jewish Offense and Defense The juxtaposition is jarring. Parashat Mishpatim opens with the words “וְאֵלֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים לִפְנֵיהֶם” – “And these are the laws that you shall set before them” (Exodus 21:1). Immediately following the revelation at… Read More »
Parashat Yitro From Parashat Beshalach through Yitro to Mishpatim and beyond, the Exodus launches the Jewish People on a forty-year journey of wandering, camping, and growing in the wilderness. The Torah’s main messages about our lives as Jewish Americans emerge… Read More »
This Sabbath, our tradition calls out to us: let the music of the Jewish people fill our souls! It is Shabbat Shirah—the Sabbath of Song. We commemorate the moment when the Children of Israel crossed the Sea of Reeds. Standing… Read More »
Here is the Parashat Bo question for the week: Was there a time when doing something together with someone led you to deeper understanding of yourself? Moses went together with God to challenge Pharoah; he discovered the true leader in… Read More »
D’var Torah: Shema Yisrael! When We Can’t Hear What We Need to Hear In Parshat Va’era (Exodus 6:9), we read: “וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה מִקֹּצֶר רוּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָה קָשָׁה” – “But they did not listen to Moses because of shortness of breath… Read More »
Degradation and Not Dignity “וַיָּקָם מֶלֶךְ־חָדָשׁ עַל־מִצְרָיִם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדַע אֶת־יוֹסֵף”—”There arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). The Talmud (Sotah 11a) debates: “רב ושמואל חד אמר חדש ממש וחד אמר שנתחדשו גזירותיו”—”Rav and Shmuel… Read More »
Unity Through Diversity: The Path to Redemption (Based on a shiur by Rabbi Paul Bloom) As Sefer Bereishit concludes, Yosef’s brothers fear retribution after their father’s death. They convey a message: “Your father commanded before his death… please forgive the… Read More »
D’var Torah: Vayigash The Approach That Changes Everything Parashat Vayigash opens with a moment of unbearable tension: “וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלָיו יְהוּדָה—And Judah approached him” (Genesis 44:18). But what does vayigash truly mean? Rashi understands it as approaching for battle—Judah ready to… Read More »
We read the Joseph story on Shabbat Hanukkah, because he experienced episodes of darkness and struggle both internal to our family and as part of a world that does not know enough how to feed itself. Pharoah recognizes that “Ruach… Read More »
Hanukkah – Celebrate 8 Days “Loud and Proud!” Hanukkah begins on Sunday night! The lights of the menorah are to be placed in a public thoroughfare or in our windows, to shine light into a dark world. It is also… Read More »