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 u’vnei Yisrael,” which translates to “Then Moses and the Israelites sang.” And after this initial song of praise and awe, Miriam picks up her timbrel 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- mourning, weeping, and likely wondering how he will move forward without her. But rather than withdrawing from society, or weeping by Sarah’s side forever, we 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 in the land, Abram takes his family to Egypt. While there, the pharaoh orders Abram’s wife, Sarai, to live in his palace. Plagues come upon 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 communities around the world read the final verses of Devarim (Deuteronomy) and immediately began again with the opening words of Bereshit (Genesis). The symbolism is profound: even 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 lasting effect on American politics. The loss of his life is tragic. In Parshat N’tzavim, which we read this Shabbat and also on Yom Kippur 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 in war and instructions on how they are to be treated. Even in the most difficult circumstances, we are commanded to treat our rivals with 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 in the Israeli Reform Movement, and to meet with a wide variety of people in Israeli society engaged in peacebuilding and pro-democracy work. It was 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 enter the land of Israel. They are reminded that they must keep God’s commandments in order to find life meaningful and fulfilling. They are reminded 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), hope (Amidah), celebration (Hallel), and grief (Mourner’s Kaddish, Psalm 23, Psalm 90). Through prayer and song, we find the language to praise God, to reflect, 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 recall the story in this week’s Torah portion about an early challenge to the rules, by an unlikely group of vulnerable community members. In the Continue Reading »
