Are we borrowers or guardians?
By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Mishpatim When one looks at the abundance of mitzvahs in the Torah, a common question arises: Are these commandments supposed to make sense to me? Depending…
The word of recognition: shalom
By Rabbi Seymour RosselParashat Yitro On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed that a new Jewish state to be called Israel would come into formal existence at midnight, Palestine time.…
Between the sea and the mountain
By Rabbi Ben SternmanParashat Beshallach With parashat Beshallach, the Exodus story reaches its apparent climax: The sea parts, the Israelites march through, the Egyptians are drowned. The children of Israel,…
Strength without venom
By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Bo The focus of the Torah readings these past two weeks is the infamous 10 plagues, which reach a peak in this portion. They are the…
Turning a diminished spirit into hope for a better tomorrow
Rabbi Kimberly Herzog Cohen By Rabbi Kimberly Herzog CohenParashat Vaera When Moses conveyed God’s message to the Israelites — that God hears their cries and will deliver them from bondage…
Knowing God: ‘I will be who I will be’
By Rabbi Andrew PaleyParashat Shemot My teacher, Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, shared a wonderful teaching about one of the most remarkable passages in the entire Torah, where God introduces Himself to…
To survive and prosper
By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Vayechi “Don’t forget where you came from!” When a parent says this, it usually means “Don’t forget the values with which we raised you.” Socially, it…
Heeding the call of conscience
By Rabbi Michael Tevya CohenParashat Vayigash Skydiving? That’s one big step — that one where you pick up your foot even though you know there’s nothing there for your foot…
Heirlooms and reunions bridge the gap of generations
By Rabbi Daniel UtleyParashat Mikeitz Last week just after we gathered with family and friends for Thanksgiving, I began to rummage through some of my grandmother’s old belongings at our…
It’s a wonderful chai
In this week’s parashah, Vayishlach, we are told (32:24): “A ‘man’ wrestled with (Jacob) until the break of dawn.” Jacob recognizes that this wasn’t some ordinary human — that he…