By Rabbi Howard WolkParashat Bo This d’var Torah is written in memory of my wife, z”l, Annette, Chana Bayla bas Yehoshua, whose first Yahrtzeit was observed this past 6 Shevat.…
By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Vaeira Love, a strong inner movement to come closer to something or someone, is the first of the soul’s seven powers that make up our character.…
By Cantor Sheri AllenParashat Shemot In just a few weeks, our country will swear in the 46th president of the United States, and whether you voted for him or not,…
By Rabbi Nancy KastenParashat Vayechi Chapter 49 of the book of Genesis opens with Jacob’s summoning of his children to his bedside for words of farewell: “And Jacob called to…
By Rabbi Ben SternmanParashat Mikeitz Whenever I’m going to teach something based on history rather than the stories we grow up with, I always start off by asking if they…
As the youngest of three boys in my family growing up, I knew that I was smarter than my brothers. After all, aren’t the youngest siblings always the smartest? I…
At first glance, a person’s name seems arbitrary and superficial, a title that serves a social function — an external feature that helps others identify you. On the other hand,…
By Rabbi Ben Sternman I’ve always loved the way this week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, begins. As Jacob flees his brother’s wrath, he stops for the night in an unnamed place…
By Rabbi Stefan J. Weinberg Parashat Toldot Jacob and Esau are born to Rivka in this week’s sedra, Toldot. While in their mother’s womb, the Torah text instructs us, “va’yitrotz’tzu…
By Rabbi Ben Sternman At the end of last week’s Torah portion, Abraham entered into the covenant between God and the Jewish people through the act of circumcision, which is…