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Shabbat Weekly Dvar Torah

Purim Redux: Jew vs. Haman Once Again

Mar 18, 2022

Purim Redux: Jew vs. Haman Once Again

As I write these words, I have just watched a young 44-year-old former comedian in an olive drab t-shirt address the Congress of the United States and indeed the world. It is a Churchillian moment, although he is speaking in Ukrainian, and this young political novice within weeks has not only become the voice of his people but has embodied the consciousness of the world.
How Do We Make Jewish Learning Relevant?

Mar 11, 2022

How Do We Make Jewish Learning Relevant?

One of the main challenges of Jewish education in the twenty-first century is finding relevance in Jewish learning... This week’s Torah portion is Vayikra, the first portion in the book of Vayikra, translated [from Hebrew to Latin] as Leviticus. It discusses aspects of the korbanot or sacrifices that were made in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, but it is hard to find meaning in the detailed ancient practices.
The Work of Our Hands

Mar 4, 2022

The Work of Our Hands

This Shabbat we read Parashat P’kudei, containing the final verses of the Book of Exodus. The Exodus narrative takes us on an incredible journey from bondage in Egypt to the experience of revelation at Sinai and the transformation of the Israelites to a people committed to a life guided by Torah and walking in G!d’s ways.
We’ve Seen This Before

Feb 25, 2022

We’ve Seen This Before

Every literate Jew knows the word: SHOAH. It’s the Hebrew word for the Holocaust, derived from the biblical word Shoah (שואה), meaning "catastrophe." Most of us, me included, have never heard of the term: Holodomor. According to the History Channel, it’s a combination of the Ukrainian words for “starvation” and “to inflict death,” and is a key event in Ukrainian history.
Who Made You Who You Are?

Feb 18, 2022

Who Made You Who You Are?

Jewish education forms the backbone of our communities. We assure the community of vitality and endurance through the Hebrew studies of our children, the outreach programs for those considering conversion, and the continuing education programs for other seeking adults. And those programs need our support.
Rekindling Your Lamp

Feb 11, 2022

Rekindling Your Lamp

On some weekday evenings, when our schedule permits, my wife and I will watch something on TV before retiring for the night. We want a few minutes to sit and laugh together. We’ve found that laughing is more conducive to good sleep than the news, or a series about some sort of futuristic dystopia that all too closely resembles daily reality.
Are Jews White People?

Feb 4, 2022

Are Jews White People?

... perhaps it is not such a coincidence that this week’s parsha about building the Tabernacle, a thing of space, is the backdrop for the controversy swirling around Whoopi Goldberg’s statement that to her eyes, as an African-American woman, the Holocaust wasn’t about racism, since it was one group of white people (Nazis) murdering another group of white people (Jews).
To Renew and Reimagine the Covenant

Jan 28, 2022

To Renew and Reimagine the Covenant

When we decided that my eldest son had reached that fateful age - the age when it seemed appropriate that he have a cell phone - we waded in with hesitation and deep reservation. It was uncharted territory for us as parents, and we were filled with anxiety. Were we making the right decision?
Confusing Metaphor with Reality

Jan 21, 2022

Confusing Metaphor with Reality

The difficulty with providing any kind of imagery for G!D is that people end up confusing metaphor with the reality. This week’s Parshat Yitro contains the 10 Statements (not commandments, as it’s been erroneously rendered in English) within which we find “Thou shalt not make graven images….” Why is it such a horror— one of the top 10! —to make a graven image of the Divine?
Are You a Functional Atheist?

Jan 14, 2022

Are You a Functional Atheist?

If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time up in your head thinking about getting your work done--planning, striving, checking items off the mental to-do list, worrying about how to keep all the balls in the air and how to meet this or that deadline or get ahead.