As we build a bridge between the seriousness of Yom Kippur and the unbridled joy of Sukkot, the Torah portion that serves as the link this year is Haazinu. It’s Moshe’s farewell to the People in poetic form coming at the end of several chapters of his signing off in prose. But there’s a common Continue Reading »
Every Shabbat afternoon, when we sit down to a delicious seudah shlishit (third meal) in the waning minutes of Shabbat, we study a small piece of the wisdom of the Rambam, the great 12th-century master, Maimonides. In recent weeks, we’ve been focused on hilkhot teshuvah, the laws of repentance. So it’s fitting for us, on this Shabbat Continue Reading »
Having been given the options–blessing or curse–in last week’sparshah, this week in Parshat Nitzavim, Israel is told that they really don’t have a choice. Yes, we have free will, but any rational person capable of exercising free choice will choose blessing. And so the Torah says “Uvakharta bahayyim“–choose life, so that you and your offspring Continue Reading »
What a dramatic scene it must have been. Half of the tribes were assembled on Mount Gerizim; the other half on Mount Eival. Half were to echo words of blessing; the others, words of curse. And for the latter, after the Levites prompted them with the words of the curses, the entire people was to Continue Reading »
We were greeted this morning by the shocking news of the discovery of the decomposing bodies of dozens of people in an abandoned truck on the side of an Austrian highway. The bodies are assumed to be those of migrant workers, who were being transported from the Balkans to wealthier parts of Europe. As refugees Continue Reading »
As we journey through the month of Elul, moving our way to another New Year, it’s time to take stock of our behavior. Knowing that we are submitting ourselves to judgment before God on Rosh Hashanah, we begin to take seriously the way we judge ourselves. This week’s Torah reading, Shoftim, begins with the command Continue Reading »
Since we’re embarking on the longest Torah reading of the year, this is a good week to have another installment of “Breakout Shabbat.” We’ll give you the option to participate in the traditional Torah service in Menchel Hall; or, you can join Ben Solomowitz in the White Chapel to discuss the Torah portions Mattot and Continue Reading »
After acting with certainty and resolve in the face of evil at the end of last week’s portion, Pinhas is rewarded with an eternal covenant of peace (and this week’s Torah portion is named for him!). But when it comes time for Moshe to ask God to designate a successor, Pinhas isn’t selected. Instead, God Continue Reading »
Serpents are fascinating supporting actors in the Bible. A talking snake corrupts Eve and Adam. Moses has a walking staff that can morph into a slithering creature. And in the wilderness phase of Israelite history, widespread complaints about God and Moses cause an infuriated God to punish the people with a plague of seraph snakes. Continue Reading »
At first glance, Korah and his band seemed to be at the forefront of a legitimate social justice movement. They are prepared to “fight the power,” as they say to Moshe and Aharon: “You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and the LORD is in their midst. Why Continue Reading »
