D'var Torah

Parashat Emor contains 63 of the Torah ’s 613 mitzvot, many of which direct us on how to sanctify time. Chapter 23 and 24 of Leviticus deal with the laws of Shabbat, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah.  In this chapter we learn about not only the when of the Jewish...Read more...

Since the second day of Passover, we have been in a period of counting the Omer, the seven-weeks between Pesach and Shavuot. Each day, we say a blessing...Read more...

Passover is one of my favorite holidays, and the seder is one of my favorite Jewish rituals. Each year, we have the opportunity to dramatically recreate our story- we ask big questions, eat crunchy dry Matzah, sing songs, and leave a door open for Elijah. In the Passover Haggadah, we read a phrase that has always inspired me to feel connected to my ancestors. 

בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת־עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִםRead more...

We each mourn in different ways. Some get very emotional. Others are silent. And others find ways to occupy themselves through work or other activity. I’m not going to suggest that there is a right or wrong way to mourn. Psychologists may tell you one thing; clergy may tell you another. I believe that ritual...Read more...

In this week’s portion, the first in the book of Vayikra or Leviticus, the people have just completed construction of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary they will carry with them throughout their wanderings. Now God’s presence, which has already been manifest through the pillar of cloud that leads the...Read more...

In this week’s Torah portion the Israelites Vayakhel - gather to create their sacred physical space, the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting which they carried through the desert on their way to Land of Israel. Just a short time ago, I returned from another experience of gathering for a...Read more...

This week we read in the Torah the instructions for the ordination of the priests, as well as the clothing they will wear when they perform their duties. The splendor of the clothing is striking, including a “breastplate of judgment” and a crown inscribed with the words, “Holy to the Lord,” both...Read more...

In our parashah this week, Mishpatim, we move from our narrative Exodus story to hearing about the laws that outline how the Israelites should live and create their community. Chapter 24, verse 3 of Exodus reads: “Moses went and repeated to the people all the commands of God and all the rules; and...Read more...

This Parasha takes its name from the second word of the Torah portion. B'shalach means "when he sent forth" and refers to Pharaoh's decision to free the Israelites. Led by Moses, they depart from Egypt, but Pharaoh changes his mind and decided to chase after them. When the Israelites see Pharaoh's armies...Read more...

Do I contradict myself?/ Very well then, I contradict myself./ (I am large, I contain multitudes.) — Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”

This week’s Torah portion, Va’era (literally, “and I appeared”), opens with an auspicious act of self-revelation:

“God spoke to Moses and said...Read more...

As 2023 (happily) comes to a close, our first Book of the Torah, Genesis, also comes to a close this week with Parashat Vayechi. The name of the portion means “And he lived.” It is the story of the final years of Jacob’s life, the blessings that he bestows to his sons, assigning each one a role in the...Read more...

Over the past few weeks, I’ve become an avid listener of “All There Is,” Anderson Cooper’s excellent podcast about navigating grief. Now in its second season, the podcast features a variety of conversations between Cooper and others who have experienced loss (and sometimes, who also spend their...Read more...

Happy Thanksgiving and almost Shabbat Shalom everyone,

This e-letter had to go out early this week because of the holiday, so as I’m writing this, negotiations are still in process to free some of the Israeli hostages held by the Hamas terrorists. My hope and prayer for this Shabbat is that at...Read more...

Dear Friends,

We are writing to offer you our support. It has been almost five weeks since the October 7 attack on Israel. The situation in Israel and Gaza - the massacre on...Read more...

This week’s Torah portion, Lech L’cha, contains a famous promise from God to Abram (soon to be Abraham): Go forth, from your land, your homeland, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you...Read more...