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Zichronot (Memories)

Sep 3, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Rosh Hashanah

In the three great themes of Rosh Hashanah, the encounter with memories (zichronot) is nestled between the power of sovereignty (malchuyot) and the triumphant, enigmatic sound of the shofar (shofarot). Zichronot reminds us that each of us is remembered, that our acts are significant, that we come, each of us individually, into the divine presence. In spite of the massive processing power of our machines, there are problems that cannot be solved鈥攅ven if every computer on earth were to be harnessed in parallel.

Finding God and Ourselves Anew

During the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we devote ourselves to the process of repentance, attempting to tip the balance in our favor as we approach the Day of Atonement.

To What Shall We Return?

Aug 28, 2013 By Lisa Gelber | Commentary | Nitzavim | Vayeilekh

As we engage in teshuvah, (re)turning to the deep, soulful place hidden beneath the barriers we erect for others and ourselves, we must ask ourselves to what we are returning and how that relocation will manifest itself in our lives.

Selichot: Body, Soul . . . 鈥淲ill You Hear My Voice?鈥�

Aug 28, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

This coming Saturday night in (Ashkenazi) synagogues around the world, congregations gather for the beginning of Selichot, the prayers and poems that inspire and guide us to seek forgiveness. Many of us will spend hours in the coming weeks turning through pages of ancient (and modern) words, hearing melodies and chants that have served so well as the pathway for the journey of the soul.

Moving Forward Meaningfully

The parashiyot of Nitzavim鈥揤ayeilekh are intimately woven into the rhythm of the liturgical year as they are typically read either immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah or during the intervening Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Blessing and Curse

Aug 21, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Ki Tavo

This week鈥檚 portion contains some of the highest highs and lowest lows in the entire Torah鈥攐r in any other work of literature, for that matter. At the start of the parashah, Israelites in the wilderness are asked to picture what it will be like to testify, from inside the Land of Israel, that they have seen God鈥檚 promises of blessing fulfilled. At the end of the parashah, those same Israelites are subjected to 54 verses of terrifying curses detailing the punishments awaiting them 鈥渋f you fail to observe faithfully all the terms of this Teaching鈥� (Deut. 28:58).

鈥淲hich You, O Lord, Have Given Me鈥�

Aug 21, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Ki Tavo

Having underscored the role of memory at the conclusion of last week鈥檚 parashah (remembering the cruelty of Amalek), Torah now accentuates the importance of appreciation in Parashat Ki Tavo.

We Have Met the Enemy, and the Enemy Is Us

Aug 14, 2013 By Marc Gary | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

How does war affect the human soul? Our Torah portion, Ki Tetzei, begins with a verse that raises these issues in a stark and discomfiting manner.

鈥淣o鈥檃m Adonai鈥� (the Beauty of Adonai): Psalm 27 and Elul

Aug 14, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

鈥�[L]ahazot beno鈥檃m Adonai ul鈥檝aker b鈥檋eychalo鈥� (To gaze upon the beauty of Adonai, and to visit in God鈥檚 sanctuary) [Ps. 27:4]d

Ethics of War

Aug 14, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

Parashat Ki Tetzei opens by teaching one of the biblical ordinances related to ethical conduct in war.

Roads to Nonviolence

Aug 7, 2013 By Ofra Arieli Backenroth | Commentary | Shofetim

Is there a way to wage war in a humane way?

Healing of Body and Soul (Part 2)

Aug 7, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

If an anthropology student from the University of Mars were to attend a Shabbat morning service in an American Jewish synagogue, what kind of understanding about our real synagogue lives might emerge in the student鈥檚 term paper on the topic? The essay might suggest that announcements and kiddush are the most important parts of the experience because that is when the most people are present. The Martian professor (whose appearance we will not explore here) might urge the student to be more subtle and to observe closely the body language of the human participants to discern which parts of the service are most engaging and important to those present.

Leave Egypt Behind

Aug 7, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shofetim

The Cairo Genizah鈥攁 treasure trove of Jewish history rediscovered by Solomon Schechter toward the end of the 19th century (43,000 fragments of which are housed in The Library of 91快活林)鈥攁ttests to the rich Jewish life that flourished in Egypt and beyond.

Balancing Peshat and Sensitivity

Jul 31, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Re'eh

Parashat Re’eh contains a categorical pronouncement against idolatry in the Land of Israel.

Bacon in the Season of Repentance

Jul 31, 2013 By Charlie Schwartz | Commentary | Re'eh

As it becomes clear that living and dealing with 鈥渂acon mania鈥� is part of early 21st-century life in the United States, now is a good time to reflect on the Jewish prohibition of eating pork, which appears in this week鈥檚 parashah.

Healing of Body and Soul (Part 1)

Jul 31, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

In addition to the well-known mi sheberakh prayer for healing recited (or sung, in modern versions) during the Shabbat Torah Service, our liturgy engages with the theme of healing in the weekday 鈥楢尘颈诲补丑, in the blessing that begins, 鈥�Refa鈥檈inu Adonai veneraf鈥檈i, hoshi鈥檈inu venivashe鈥檃鈥� (Heal us, Adonai, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved). The blessing continues, asking for complete healing (refu鈥檃h sh鈥檒eymah) for all among the People of Israel who are unwell.

Consolation and Repair

Jul 24, 2013 By Rabbi Abigail Treu | Commentary | Eikev

Here we find ourselves two weeks into the seven weeks marked ever so gently by their haftarot, the shiv鈥檃h d鈥檔ehemata (seven haftarot of comfort or consolation)鈥攕even weeks in which the haftarot have nothing to do with the parashiyot, and everything to do with where we are in the calendar year: heading from Tish鈥檃h Be鈥橝v into the season of teshuvah, and ultimately into a new year.

Gratitude for the Land

Jul 24, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Eikev

Parashat Eikev is centered on the Land of Israel.

Separation and Connectedness

Jul 17, 2013 By Leonard A. Sharzer | Commentary | Va'et-hannan

In Parashat Va-ethannan, Moses seems to have finally come to accept that he will not enter the Promised Land with the People, whom he liberated from Egyptian slavery and guided during a 40-year trek through the wilderness. As he concludes his first oration, he recalls his pleading with God to allow him to enter the Land, a plea that was denied because of his response to the demand of the People for water. Now, no longer pleading for a pardon, or even a commutation of the sentence, he exhorts the People to follow God鈥檚 commandments and the teachings he, Moses, has transmitted to them.

Jerusalem

Jul 17, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Tishah Be'av

As we emerge from our encounter with destruction and desolation on Tish鈥檃h Be鈥橝v, we approach Shabbat Nahamu, named for the opening words of the haftarah 鈥�Nahamu nahamu ami鈥� (Be comforted, oh be comforted My people; Isa. 40:1). This becomes the week when we allow ourselves to encounter all the images of Jerusalem that are presented to us as signs and symbols of hope in our liturgy.

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