“And an angel of the Lord called out to him from the heavens and said… Do not stretch out your hand against the lad….” (Genesis 22:12) Every Rosh Hashanah (Jewish… Read more »

I write this message after the weekend of September 11, 2011. It has been an emotionally exhausting weekend. We had services of remembrance at Beth Hillel Synagogue this past Shabbat;… Read more »

“You shall make ritual fringes on the four corners [literally wings, ‘kanaf’ in Hebrew] of the garment with which you cover yourself. When a man marries a woman and he… Read more »

You shall surely appoint for yourself a king (Deut 17: 15) Can a woman be elected as president of a synagogue? Can a woman serve as a judge in matters… Read more »

“Behold, I give before you this day a blessing and a curse…” (Deuteronomy 11:26) This portion opens with the third Covenant that God establishes with the Israelites just as they… Read more »

“You shall eat and be satisfied and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which he has given you” (Deut. 8:10) Ekev first and foremost provides… Read more »

I once heard of a Jewish summer camp that commemorated the day of Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av) with a concert full of singing… Read more »

“Zion shall be redeemed because of her moral justice and her children shall return to her because of her compassionate righteousness” (Isaiah 1:27). The Shabbat before the bleak day of… Read more »

“Command the children of Israel:  This is the land which shall fall to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan and its boundaries” (Numbers 34:2) These closing portions of… Read more »

This week’s Torah portion begins with Moses presenting the commandments regarding the laws of promises and oaths to the “heads of the tribes” (Numbers 30:2). Indeed, the very division of… Read more »