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Terumah – The Gift That Elevates

Jan 29, 2014 By Eitan Fishbane | Commentary | Terumah

Sometimes we all feel like we鈥檙e giving more than we get, that we do more than our share, or that our individual needs are being sacrificed for the sake of someone else鈥檚 happiness.

The Tabernacle: Divinity and Practicality

Jan 29, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Terumah

Parashat Terumah opens dramatically with a building campaign.

On Doubt (Part 1)

Jan 22, 2014 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

There are many texts found in the siddur that are not easily planted in our mouths, minds, hearts, and souls. For example, how might a person say with integrity, 鈥淢y God, the soul You have given me is pure鈥� (Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays, 4), while intellectually struggling with the existence of soul, and beset by uncertainty about the presence of God in the world?

Defining a Moral and Just Society

Jan 22, 2014 By Judith Hauptman | Commentary | Mishpatim

Sometimes an article in the newspaper reminds you of something in the Torah and makes you think in new ways about verses you have read many times before.

Building Bridges

Jan 22, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Mishpatim

After legislating the multiplicity of laws in what has become known as Sefer Ha-Brit, the 鈥淏ook of the Covenant,鈥� Parashat Mishpatim concludes on a pessimistic note鈥攁 warning to the Israelites.

Shabbat Eve (Part 3): 鈥淪it in the Dark, or Light Candles鈥�

Jan 15, 2014 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

Lighting candles at home (and in some synagogues) is a deeply rooted practice among the Jewish people all over the world. A pair of candlesticks is often identified as among the most precious (Jewish) possessions of a family, and many people speak of the sense of ethereal peace that descends upon a household (or community) as the flames of the candles come to life and the blessing is chanted.

Exodus 18: The Proverbial Visit of the In-Laws

Jan 15, 2014 By Robert Harris | Commentary | Yitro

鈥淐ome and listen to my story 鈥檅out a man named . . . Jethro!鈥�

A Lesson in Interreligious Dialogue

Jan 15, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Yitro

If one were asked to identify the most central parashah to Israelite identity and to Judaism, one would certainly point to Parashat Yitro, which describes the moment of revelation at Sinai.

Shabbat Eve (Part 2): Shabbat Angels鈥擝lessings or . . .

Jan 9, 2014 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

鈥�Shalom aleikhem鈥� is a traditional greeting exchanged upon encountering a friend or acquaintance, and also the opening phrase of the familiar song chanted around the Shabbat table before Friday night kiddush (Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat, 13, 309).

Living Practice: Not 鈥淗ow鈥� but 鈥淲hy鈥�

Jan 9, 2014 By Ute Steyer | Commentary | Beshallah

鈥淣ow when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, 鈥楾he people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.鈥欌€� (Exod. 13:17)

Determination and Redemption

Jan 8, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Beshallah

Parashat Beshallah witnesses triumphant redemption.

The Many Languages of Torah

Jan 3, 2014 By Marcus Mordecai Schwartz | Commentary | Bo

Sometimes basic questions are the hardest to answer. For example, I know that one plus one equals two, but when asked to prove it logically, I may struggle a bit before I can express it.

Out of the Darkness, into the Light

Jan 3, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Bo

As Parashat Bo opens, the intransigence of Pharaoh increases as well as the determination of God, Moses, and Aaron.

Divine Compassion

Dec 27, 2013 By Julia Andelman | Commentary | Va'era

The biblical book that we began last week鈥擲hemot鈥攊s known in English as Exodus, a name that highlights one of the key dramatic episodes of the book.

A Lesson in Empowering Leaders

Dec 27, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Va'era

Moses鈥檚 intransigence continues in this week鈥檚 parashah as our prophet continues to resist his prophetic role.

What鈥檚 Jewish about Jewish Leadership?

Dec 16, 2013 By Marc Gary | Commentary | Shemot

A few years back, I was sitting in a class for prospective leaders of the Jewish community and yawning. Although the class was organized by a prestigious Jewish institution and gathered together an invitation-only group of accomplished men and women from business and the professions, I kept looking at my watch and planning my escape.

Shabbat Eve (Part 1): Metaphors of Marriage

Dec 16, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

Many are familiar with the custom of chanting the last chapter of Proverbs (Eishet Hayil; A Woman of Valor) as part of the ritual for those gathered around the table for Shabbat dinner on Friday night.

Understanding the Burning Bush

Dec 16, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shemot

This week鈥檚 parashah, Shemot, begins the saga of the enslavement of the Israelites in the land of Egypt.

God鈥檚 Service: Atarah (Crown) or Tircha (Burden)?

Dec 12, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

Rabbinic sources deal not only with the texts of Jewish liturgy, and the occasions and times at which they are to be said. Our Sages from the earliest times engaged with what we might call 鈥渞itual process鈥� or, more informally, the experience of 鈥渟itting in shul.鈥� From most ancient times until the day before yesterday, there has been debate and discussion about how to go about this鈥攚here to sit, in what language to pray, how many people to 鈥渃all up,鈥� how long should the Torah reading be, and how long is 鈥渢oo long鈥濃€攅ven for the most beautiful and soulful worship?

Honor, Prophecy, and 鈥淢other Earth鈥�

Dec 12, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Vayehi

One of the unsolved mysteries of Tanakh relates directly to Parashat Vayehi.

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