By Cantor Don CrollParashat Pinchas This week’s Torah portion is Pinchas. It’s quite an exciting parasha. A lot of important things happen in this story: Perhaps the most interesting narrative…

By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Balak In addition to the instructions and anecdotes found within every Torah portion, there is, between the lines, a main theme and message being conveyed. Often…

By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Shlach The main event of this week features a spoiled episode of espionage. At that fateful moment, the Jewish people were in good spirits, hopeful as…

By Rabbi Kimberly Herzog CohenParashat Beha’alotecha This week I celebrated my birthday. So many discoveries and such growth can happen in a year, especially when there is so much grief…

By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Bamidbar In general, every Torah portion has a connection with the time of the year when it is read. This week’s parasha, Bamidbar, is usually read…

By Rabbi Michael KushnickParashat Behukotai This week we conclude the Book of Leviticus, the third book of the Torah, with parashat Behukotai. The very first verses of this parasha provide…

By Rabbi Stefan WeinbergParashat B’har “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” (Leviticus 25:10) This vision has served as a rallying call for this great nation during the…

By Rabbi Dan LewinSefirat HaOmer We are deep in the period of the Jewish calendar known as Sefirat HaOmer, where every day (beginning at nightfall) there is a separate mitzvah…

By Rabbi Howard WolkParashat Kedoshim There are 51 mitzvot in the portion of Kedoshim. From one verse to the next, the Torah introduces a different mitzvah. They include interpersonal mitzvot…

By Rabbi Adam RoffmanParashatAcrei Mot Have you ever thought about why Jews, when they raise a glass of wine in celebration or as part of ritual like kiddush, say “l’chayim,”…