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PARSHAT NITZAVIM - VA-YELEKH EACH GENERATION REACHES HIGHER AND HIGHER SEPTEMBER 7-8, 2007 / 25 ELUL 5767 In the portion of Va-yelekh, Moshe (Moses) declares that God has not permitted him to enter the land of Israel. (Deuteronomy 31:2) PARSHAT KI TAVO THE IMPORANCE OF PERSPECTIVE AND FOLLOW-UP AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2007 / 18 ELUL 5767 Four sentences found in this week's portion have become a central element of the Passover Seder. PARSHAT KI TETZE TO WHAT CAN THE LOVE BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE BE COMPARED? AUGUST 24-25, 2007 / 11 ELUL 5767 The love between God and His people is often compared to eat and the marital relationship. PARSHAT SHOFTIM EACH ONE OF US IS LIKE THE TREE OF THE FIELD AUGUST 17-18, 2007 / 4 ELUL 5767 The Torah's sympathetic attitude toward ecology surfaces in a law legislating conduct during war. This week's portion states: PARSHAT RE'EH ADDING AND SUBTRACTING FROM THE TORAH: THE RABBI'S ROLE IN THE LEGAL PROCESS AUGUST 10-11, 2007 / 27 AV 5767 This week's Torah portion gives us a curious mitzvah. It tells us not to add or subtract to the commandments. (Deuteronomy 13:1) PARSHAT EKEV THE SIMPLE KEY TO WHY GOD GIVES US THE COMMANDMENTS AUGUST 3-4, 2007 / 20 AV 5767 Although we may live lives dedicated to following the commandments of the Torah, the core question of "What does God ask of us?" is posed in the Torah portion this week. PARSHAT VA-ETHANAN THE DIVINE NEED FOR EACH ONE OF US JULY 27-28, 2007 / 13 AV 5767 Without the world, what would God be? The answer is simply, God. On the other hand, without God, the world would cease to exist. PARSHAT DEVARIM NATIONAL EVENTS SERVE AS A CORRECTIVE FOR INDIVIDUAL ONES July 20-21, 2007 / 6 AV 5767 Many events in the book of Bereishit (Genesis) repeat themselves in Devarim (Deuteronomy) with one major difference. PARSHAT MATOT - MASEI THE VALUE OF LIVING IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL JULY 13-14, 2007 / 28 TAMMUZ 5767 The portion of Masei includes the sentence that speaks to the commandment of living in Israel. The key phrase is "and you shall take possession of the land and dwell therein." (Numbers 33:53) PARSHAT PINHAS THE POWER IN STEPPING BACK JULY 6-7, 2007 / 21 TAMMUZ 5767 One way that people attempt to attain transcendence is by guiding their children on the path they began. Even Moshe (Moses), who was first and foremost committed to the nation of Israel PARSHAT BALAK THE POWER OF LOVE TO CONQUER HATRED JUNE 29-30, 2007 / 14 TAMMUZ 5767 Could it be that Bilaam, the gentile prophet, saddled his own animal when he set forth to curse the Jews? (Numbers 22:21) For someone of his stature, a prophet, it certainly seems beneath his dignity. PARSHAT HUKAT THE LIMITATIONS OF THE HUMAN MIND JUNE 22-23, 2007 / 7 TAMMUZ 5767 There are differing opinions concerning the meaning of "hok" (commonly translated as statute), the type of law discussed at the beginning of this week's portion. (Numbers 19) PARSHAT KORACH DISSENT FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN JUNE 15-16, 2007 / 30 SIVAN 5767 The controversy of Korach and his congregation-unlike the controversy of the scholars Hillel and Shammai - is a controversy not pursued in a Heavenly cause. It, therefore, does not endure. (Ethics 5:17) Why is Korach's disagreement with Moshe (Moses) so tainted? PARSHAT SHELACH THE GIFT OF OPPORTUNITY IS NOT LIMITLESS JUNE 8-9, 2007 / 23 SIVAN 5767 A glimpse at the narrative in the book of Numbers reveals an almost parallel pattern of events to that which occurred to the Jews after their leaving Egypt. PARSHAT BEHA'ALOTCHA LIMITATION CAN BE A CONDUIT TO FREEDOM JUNE 1-2, 2007 / 16 SIVAN 5767 Complaining to Moshe (Moses), the Israelites cry out that they remember the fish served to them in Egypt that they received without price, "hinam." (Numbers 11:5) THE PARALLEL NATURE OF DIVINE AND HUMAN LOVE SHAVUOT - MAY 22-24, 2007 / 6-7 SIVAN 5767 Shavuot is a celebration of that moment when we, the Jewish people, were wed to God. Note the parallel between that moment and the wedding of bride and groom. PARSHAT BAMIDBAR THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF COUNTING MAY 18-19, 2007 / 2 SIVAN 5767 This week's portion contains a counting of the Jewish people. Nachmanides offers several ideas to explainthe reason for such a census. Each reason has a deep message. PARSHAT BEHAR-BECHUKOTAI WHY DO THE GOOD SUFFER? MAY 11-12, 2007 / 24 IYAR 5767 This week's portion clearly states that good people are rewarded while evil people are punished. In the words of the Torah: "If you keep my commandments...then I will give your rains in their season" PARSHAT EMOR NO HUMAN CAN GIVE ALL ANSWERS AT THE MOMENTS OF DEEPEST DESPAIR MAY 4-5, 2007 / 17 IYAR 5767 This week's Torah portion presents many rules pertaining to the Kohen (Jewish priest). Among these laws is the prohibition against any contact with the dead. PARSHAT AHAREI MOT - KEDOSHIM THE MEANING OF THE WORD OF KADDOSH APRIL 27-28, 2007 / 10 IYAR 5767 How does one attain the status of kedusha (holiness), commanded in one of this week's Torah portions? (Leviticus 19:2) PARSHAT TAZRIA - METZORAH THE MEANING OF TUMAH APRIL 20-21, 2007 / 3 IYAR 5767 There are many who believe that Jewish law links a menstruating woman (niddah) with that which is PARSHAT SHEMINI THE RATIONALE FOR THE DIETARY LAWS APRIL 13-14, 2007 / 26 NISAN 5767 The Torah in this week's Parsha mandates that for animals to be kosher they must possess two characteristics--cloven hooves and chew the cud. (Leviticus 11:3) PESACH 5767 THE DEEPER MEANING OF DAYENU APRIL 2-10, 2007 / 14-22 NISSAN 5767 Perhaps the most famous song in the haggadah is Dayenu. What is its meaning? PARSHAT VAYIKRA ONE WORD CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE MARCH 23-24 2007 / 5 NISAN 5767 Having completed the portions describing the building of the Mishkan (tabernacle), the Torah now presents the order of sacrifices that were offered there. PARSHAT VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI THE GLORY AND DANGER OF HUMAN CREATIVITY MARCH 16-17, 2007 / 27 ADAR 5767 When looking at this week's portion, an interesting juxtaposition is presented. The construction of the Mishkan is placed right next to the concept of Shabbat in the beginning of the portion. Why? PARSHAT KI TISA GOD ACTUALLY DESIRES OUR DEMANDS MARCH 9-10, 2007 / 20 ADAR 5767 Is it appropriate to challenge God when things are going wrong? PARSHAT TETZAVEH THE ULTIMATE ARBITER OF CHECKS AND BALANCES MARCH 2-3, 2007 / 13 ADAR 5767 Built into an open democratic system of government is the idea that too much power should not be invested in any one individual. PARSHAT TERUMAH THE MISHKAN AS A VEHICLE TO OUR CONNECTION WITH GOD FEBRUARY 23-24, 2007 / 6 ADAR 5767 Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of blessed memory, points out that prayer and prophecy are two sides of the same coin. While both involve dialogue between the human being and God, there is one major difference: In prophecy God initiates the dialogue, while in prayer, the human being is the initiator. PARSHAT MISHPATIM LOOKING AT THE COMMANDMENTS HORIZONTALLY FEBRUARY 16-17, 2007 / 29 SHEVAT 5767 Jewish law is commonly broken down into two groups, laws which refer to the link between humanity and God (bein adam la-Makom) and laws which govern interpersonal relationships (bein adam le-havero). PARSHAT YITRO JEWISH HISTORY AS A VEHICLE TOWARD BELIEF FEBRUARY 9-10, 2007 / 22 SHEVAT 5767 Right at the outset of the Aseret Hadibrot, the ten declarations (commonly translated as the Ten Commandments), God declares "I am the Lord your God who took you out of the Land of Egypt." (Exodus 20:2) PARSHAT BESHALACH A SALVATION OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH FEBRUARY 2-3, 2007 / 15 SHEVAT 5767 "Where is God?" asked Menahem Mendel of Kotzk, one of the great Hasidic masters. "Everywhere," replied his students. "No, my children," he responded, "God is not everywhere, but only where you let Him enter." PARSHAT BO UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE NATURE OF REPARATIONS JANUARY 26-27, 2007 / 8 SHEVAT 5767 How could it be that as the Jews left Egypt they despoiled the Egyptians (va-yenatzlu) and took their goods (Exodus 12:36). PARSHAT VA-ERA THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE TEN PLAGUES JANUARY 19-20, 2007 / 1 SHEVAT 5767 Although the plagues may seem like random punishments, they are actually a Divine plan to teach the Egyptians some fundamental lessons. PARSHAT SHEMOT IN A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO HUMANITY, STAND TALL AND ASSERT YOURS JANUARY 12-13, 2007 / 23 TEVET 5767 After being raised in the Egyptian palace, Moshe (Moses) goes into the field and sees an Egyptian smiting a Jew. In the words of the Torah, "He looked this way and that way, and when he saw there was no man (ish) he smote the Egyptian." (Exodus 2:12) PARSHAT VAYECHI THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE GRANDPARENT RELATIONSHIP JANUARY 5-6, 2007 / 16 TEVET 5767 Notified that his father Yaakov (Jacob) is sick, Yosef (Joseph) takes his sons Ephraim and Menashe to see their grandfather. As they enter, Yaakov proclaims "mi eileh?" "Who are these?" (Genesis 48:8) PARSHAT VAYIGASH THE IMPORTANCE OF TEARS DECEMBER 29-30, 2006 / 9 TEVET 5767 When Yaakov (Jacob) meets his son Yosef (Joseph) after seventeen years of separation the Torah states, "And he wept on his neck." (Genesis 46:29) Since the sentence speaks of only one individual crying, "and he wept," who is the Torah referring to? PARSHAT MIKETZ WHY ARE WE CALLED YEHUDIM? DECEMBER 22 - 23, 2006 / 2 TEVET 5767 It is commonly known that the reason that we call ourselves by the name Yehudim (Jews) is because most of us come literally from the Kingdom of Judah, or more specifically the tribe of Judah. Yet, there is a deeper reason PARSHAT VA-YESHEV GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ACT DECEMBER 15-16, 2006 / 25 KISLEV 5767 The dreams of the butler (sar ha-mashkim) and baker (sar ha-ofim) seem quite similar. Each of their dreams contain food (grapes, bread), the relinquishing of PARSHAT VAYISHLACH TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN ACHIEVING CHANGE DECEMBER 8-9, 2006 / 18 KISLEV 5767 Is public protest an effective means of bringing about change? While many insist on its value, some have argued that demonstrations on behalf of Jewish causes precipitate anti-Semitic backlash. This week's Torah portion offers an insight into this debate. PARSHAT VA-YETZE JACOB MEETS RACHEL-TEARS OF JOY, SADNESS AND AWARENESS THAT NOTHING LASTS FOREVER DECEMBER 1-2, 2006 / 11 KISLEV 5767 As Ya'akov (Jacob) flees Esav (Esau) he arrives near his uncle Laban's home. There he sees his cousin Rachel. The Torah tells us, "And Ya'akov kissed Rachel and cried." (Genesis 29:11) Why the tears? PARSHAT TOLDOT YAAKOV AND YISRAEL: THE INTEGRATION OF BODY AND SOUL NOVEMBER 24-25, 2006 / 4 KISLEV 5767 This week's portion tells of Yitzchak's (Isaac) special love for Esav (Esau) and Rivka's (Rebecca) special love for Yaakov (Jacob). (Genesis 25:28) One wonders how Yitzchak could have been so naive to PARSHAT HAYEI SARAH THE SHALSHELET: THE MUSICAL NOTE WITH A DEEP MESSAGE NOVEMBER 17 - 18, 2006 / 27 HESHVAN 5767 Words have the power to express ideas. But as expressive as words can be, they can sometimes be limiting. Often music can give soul and meaning to ideas that words cannot. PARSHAT VAYERA THE TEST OF FAITH IS BELIEVING IN GOD EVEN WHEN OUR PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED NOVEMBER 10-11, 2006 / 20 HESHVAN 5767 After the binding of Yitzchak (Isaac) episode (akedat Yitzchak), the Torah tells us that Nachor, Avraham's (Abraham) brother, was blessed with eight children. PARSHAT LECH-LECHA THE GREATEST ROLE MODELS ARE ONES THAT SHOWS THEY ARE TRULY HUMAN NOVEMBER 3-4, 2006 / 13 HESHVAN 5767 At Sarah's insistence, Abraham marries Hagar. Soon after, Hagar becomes pregnant and Sarah then becomes enraged. Here, the Torah uses the word va-te-a’ne-hah, which is commonly translated "and she (Sarah) oppressed her (Hagar)." (Genesis 16:6) PARSHAT NOACH THE SECRET TO EVERLASTING CREATION OCTOBER 27-28, 2006 / 6 HESHVAN 5767 This week's portion describes the famous story in Genesis of the great deluge that destroyed the earth. Why must the narrative tell us about the flood in such great detail? PARSHAT BEREISHIT EACH OF US HAS A GODLY SPARK OCTOBER 20-21 2006/ 29 TISHREI 5767 While some maintain that the human being is only physical form, the Torah, in one of its most important sentences, insists that every person is also created in the image of God-tzelem Elokim (Genesis 1:26,27). PARSHAT VEZOT HA-BERAKHA THE TORAH: BLACK FIRE ON WHITE FIRE OCTOBER 13-15, 2006/ 21-23 TISHREI 5767 The last portion of the Torah includes one of its more esoteric phrases-"eish da'at, the fiery law." (Deuteronomy 33:2) The Midrash concludes that this phrase is a description of the Torah. SUKKOT AND EMPTY SYNAGOGUES OCTOBER 6-8, 2006/ 15 TISHREI 5767 Synagogues have been packed. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the busiest times for synagogues everywhere. TRUSTING GOD A YOM KIPPUR REFLECTION SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 2, 2006 / 8-10 TISHREI 5767 Rabbi Yaacov ben Asher writes that during different times in prayer, there are different physical postures that we take. We stand when reciting the Amidah and fall on our faces when saying the prayer of Tachanun. (Tur, Orach Chayim 131) A ROSH HASHANAH REFLECTION SEPTEMBER 22-24, 2006/ 1-2 TISHREI 5767 We live in a world where people emphasize history - their past, or the future - their hopes and dreams. Does the present really occur? After anticipating a particular event it passes in an instant and becomes a memory. PARSHAT NITZAVIM/VAYELECH TESHUVAH: GOD'S RETURN TO US SEPTEMBER 15-16, 2006/ 23 ELUL 5766 Parshat Nitzavim, the first of the two portions we read this week, is replete with the message of teshuvah (repentance). PARSHAT KI TAVO ANTI-ZIONISM IS A COVER FOR ANTI-SEMITISM SEPTEMBER 8 - 9, 2006 / 16 ELUL 5766 Three covenants (brit) are mentioned in the Torah, the covenant of the pieces (Genesis 15), the covenant of Sinai (Exodus 19), and the covenant of our portion, which was made just prior to our entry into Israel (Deuteronomy 29). Truth be told, they each contribute to the making of the nation of Israel. PARSHAT KI-TETZE THE CHALLENGE OF MORALITY IN THE FACE OF WAR AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 / 13 ELUL 5766 "All is fair in love and war." Not so in Judaism. In fact, the test of moral PARSHAT SHOFTIM THE ROLE OF THE JEWISH KING AUGUST 25-26, 2006 / 2 ELUL 5766 Whether appointing a king is legally obligatory or not is a subject of great controversy. But whether it is or is not, the Torah recognizes that it is human nature that people will ask for leadership in the form of a king. (Deuteronomy 17:14) PARSHAT RE'EH ADDING AND SUBTRACTING FROM THE TORAH: THE RABBI'S ROLE IN THE LEGAL PROCESS AUGUST 18-19, 2006 / 25 AV 5766 This week's Torah portion gives us a curious mitzvah. It tells us not to add or subtract to the commandments. (Deuteronomy 13:1) PARSHAT EKEV THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL AUGUST 11-12, 2006 / 18 AV 5766 Over and over our portion emphasizes the importance of inheriting the land of Israel. (Deuteronomy 8:1, 9:1) Why is Israel so crucial to our covenant with God? PARSHAT VAETCHANAN NACHAMU AUGUST 4-5, 2006 / 11 AV 5766 Moshe (Moses) in this weeks' portion implores God for permission to enter into Israel. PARSHAT DEVARIM/CHAZON THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN ENDEAVOR AND DIVINE INTERVENTION JULY 28-29, 2006 / 4 AV 5766 There is a Talmudic story that reveals a lot about how we should react when facing adversity. It is one that is obviously an appropriate one to focus upon just days before Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, when both Temples were destroyed in Jerusalem. PARSHAT MATOT-MASEI IN TIMES OF DANGER, RUN TO ISRAEL RATHER THAN FROM ISRAEL JULY 21-22, 2006 / 26 TAMMUZ 5766 In one of this week's portions Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe request to remain on the eastern side of the Jordan. We have previous Weekly Divrei Torahs, just click here: |
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