91快活林

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.

The Older Shall Serve the Younger

Dec 11, 2013 By 91快活林 Alumni | Commentary | Vayehi

By Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky

The Viennese psychologist Alfred Adler theorized that birth order within a family was a decisive factor in shaping one鈥檚 personality. Firstborn children tend to be natural leaders, he theorized, because parents tend to shower them with attention, and younger children tend to look up to their big siblings for guidance. However, firstborn kids tend to struggle with a sense of 鈥渄ethronement鈥� when a younger one comes along, feeling that this new little interloper has knocked them off their pedestals of parental love.

Texts and Songs鈥斺�淔irst Fruits鈥� Journey into Shabbat

Dec 4, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

Let us look at the journey of Shabbat liturgy, a journey of text and music. The formal liturgy of Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat, the Friday evening service) begins with a series of six psalms (Pss. 95鈥�99 and 29) followed by Lekha Dodi. A generation ago, almost all siddurim and services began with 鈥�Lekhu neranena . . . 鈥� (the opening of Psalm 95), perhaps preceded by a reading or devotional prayer.

Judah Leads

Dec 4, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Vayiggash

This week鈥檚 parashah, Vayiggash, showcases the most dramatic moment of the Joseph narrative.

What Did Joseph Mean to Say?

Dec 3, 2013 By Walter Herzberg | Commentary | Vayiggash

Joseph, viceroy of Egypt, who has not yet revealed himself to his brothers, threatens to retain his brother Benjamin as a slave (Gen. 44:17).

惭颈办别迟锄鈥擧补苍耻办办补丑鈥擳丑补苍办蝉驳颈惫颈苍驳

Nov 27, 2013 By Burton L. Visotzky | Commentary | Miketz | Hanukkah

Hanukkah is the original Thanksgiving. While it is true that our ancestors did not eat turkey (a North American bird), they certainly were cooking with oil.

First Word: 鈥淭hanks鈥擬odeh鈥�

Nov 27, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

I recall learning Hebrew at the breakfast table from my polyglot father, who spoke 10 languages, saying 鈥渢辞诲补丑鈥� (thanks) or 鈥渢odah rabbah鈥� (thank you very much) as occasion demanded鈥攚hich in England it did a lot. The formality of prayerful English kept hidden from me the extent to which giving thanks (thanksgiving) fills our liturgy, literally from the very first word.

The Wisdom of Joseph: Saving Self and Country

Nov 27, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Miketz

Parashat Miketz opens with Pharaoh plagued by two disturbing dreams pregnant with meaning.