In this week’s Torah portion, Beshalach, music is the highlight of our story. After the sea splits and the Israelites are on the other side, we read, “Az yashir Moshe Continue Reading »
This week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah (the life of Sarah,) opens not with life, as the title might suggest, but instead with Sarah’s death. We find Abraham in deep grief- Continue Reading »
This week’s Torah portion begins with the story of Abram leaving his birthplace in Haran. God promises the land of Canaan to Abram and his descendants. Because of a famine Continue Reading »
This past week, we completed both our annual Torah reading cycle and our yearly journey through the High Holidays—culminating together in the joy of Simchat Torah. On this day, Jewish Continue Reading »
This past week, all of us were shocked by yet another assassination of a political leader: Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist who galvanized millions of people and had a Continue Reading »
In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, we read about laws that center around relationships, challenges in society, and human dignity. The portion opens with the imagery of captives taken Continue Reading »
In early August, I traveled to Tel Aviv, as a participant in a week-long seminar for American clergy. Primarily, we were there to meet with and learn from our counterparts Continue Reading »
On this Shabbat we read Parashat Eikev, the third parasha of Devarim or Deuteronomy. The portion is a continuation of Moses’ speech to the Israelites as they stand ready to Continue Reading »
Dear Friends, Shabbat Shalom. Judaism offers us a way to respond to every human emotion — from joy to sorrow. Each day, our prayers reflect gratitude (like Modim and Shehecheyanu), Continue Reading »
During a month in which we digest a season of court challenges and rulings affecting everything from individual rights to the powers of our country’s leaders, it is instructive to Continue Reading »
