The very first tallit clips I had–you know, the thing that keeps my tallit from sliding off my non-existent shoulders–had sweet words on each clasp. “Like an eagle who rouses its nestlings, gliding down to its young.” Those words are half of a verse in this week’s Torah portion, Ha-azinu. The verse continues speaking of the eagle: “So did [God] Continue Reading »
While in our era, the rabbinic sermon is a regular part of Shabbat and holy day services, formal preaching in the synagogue was not so common in previous centuries. But Shabbat Shuvah, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, was a big day for preaching. In fact, the title given to the preacher on that Shabbat was “the Continue Reading »
There isn’t a person alive who didn’t aggravate his or her parents, at least a little. Some of us, or our children, may have even been a tad rebellious. Some may have exceeded the “a tad” part. But it remains jarring to me on an annual basis when we read Parshat Ki-Teitzei, to encounter the law Continue Reading »
Tzedek tzedek tirdof–“Justice, justice, shall you pursue.” Few verses are as familiar and frequently quoted as this one from this week’s Torah reading, Shofetim. Maybe it’s the doubling of the word tzedek that makes it even more memorable than other verses that invoke the word and the theme of justice. So why is tzedek there in duplicate? My favorite Continue Reading »
The Book of Deuteronomy is relentless in its demands that the Israelites, upon conquering the Promised Land, leave no trace of idolatry. This is a point of emphasis near the beginning of this week’s reading, Parshat Re-eh. After instructing them on the demolition of all idolatrous shrines, to the point that the names of foreign gods Continue Reading »
One morning back in my JTS days, a group of students was finishing up breakfast after morning minyan, getting ready to head to our first class of the day. A faculty member, beloved for his authenticity as a serious scholar and religious thinker, walked over to our table and pointed to a JTS bentscher–the small booklet Continue Reading »
As I said in my sermon last Shabbat morning, the end of Tish’ah BeAv, the most mournful day of the Jewish year, signals a turn to hope. Right on the heels of this day of fasting and dirges comes Tu BeAv, the 15th day of the month. This day, which coincides with Friday, is one of the Continue Reading »
When the scouts return from reconnoitering the Promised Land, their panic proves to be contagious. The Israelites bewail their predicament, longing for a more peaceful death. They would rather have perished in Egypt and would even accept death in the wilderness. Anything would be better than to die by the sword of the giant enemy Continue Reading »
The wilderness journey gets underway this Shabbat, but while the Israelites are supposed to be going north, their experience quickly goes south. Despite gifts of Divine accompaniment, a reliable notification system, and a steady diet of manna, the Israelites begin to complain with such bitterness (and irony) that Moshe is ready to give up. Instead Continue Reading »
This week we read Parshat Naso, which is dominated by the longest chapter in the Humash. That’s where we read of the gifts brought by each tribe to the dedication of the altar. Each gift is identical, yet the Torah records each separately, to emphasize the devotion of each and every tribe. Earlier in the Torah portion, Continue Reading »
