The dove and the olive leaf
By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Noah The stories in the beginning of the first book of Bereisheet (Genesis) are among the most famous and fascinating. And sometimes, because they have become…
Ari Weiss, z”l: protector of Israel
By Rabbi Howard WolkParashat Beresheet This d’var Torah is dedicated to the memory of Sgt. Ari Weiss, z”l, of the IDF, son of our dear friends, Susie and Rabbi Stewart…
‘Into every sukkah, a little rain must fall’
Sukkot 2022 By Cantor Sheri Allen I remember that morning well, even though it was about 15 years ago. I woke up to the sound of wind, and an unusual…
Closeness and distance, heavens and earth
By Rabbi Dan LewinParashat Haazinu Long before Shakespeare’s famous line “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears,” Moses put forth, in Hebraic efficiency, a similar expression — only he was…
Know when enough is enough
By Rabbi Nancy KastenParashat Vayelekh None of us lives forever. We pray to be written into the Book of Life for the coming year while knowing that death is inescapable.…
All Jews are responsible for one another
By Rabbi Howard WolkParashat Nitzavim The Torah portion of Nitzavim is invariably read on the last Shabbat of the year. “Atem nitzavim ha-yom kulchem… — You are standing, before your…
The unique role of the month of Elul
By Rabbi Dan Lewin We are deep into the Jewish month of Elul, which is regarded as the preparatory period for the Days of Awe ahead. But more than a…
Double standards
By Rabbi Stephen FischParashat Ki Tetse Our Torah portion for this week, Ki Tetse, is filled with mitzvot which apply to us today as much as they did in Biblical…
Be fair and honest witnesses
By Rabbi Debra RobbinsParashat Shoftim In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shoftim, the text’s well-known, seemingly repetitive injunction, “tzedek tzedek tirdof, justice, justice you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20), demands we…
How deep is your love?
By Rabbi Dan Lewin In the peak of summertime, when excitement and thirst for pleasurable vacations run wild, there is an old Jewish custom to counteract any negative effects by…