facebook
twitter

needayoutubeicon donate

torah commentary
8WI6_Greenbaum__Alex_NEW.jpg
Our firstborn no longer belong to God
Bamidbar, Numbers 1:1-4:20 Once upon a time, a long time ago, every firstborn belonged to God. We were always supposed to give the first of all “our fruits” to God, literally. Now, let’s go way b...
May 09, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
full story
<i>Rabbi Aaron Bisno</i>
Shabbat as a utopian ideal
Behar-Behukotai, Leviticus 25:1-27:34 This week’s Torah reading is drawn from a double portion, Behar-Behukotai. Behar is associated with the laws of sabbatical; that is, we are instructed to al...
May 02, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend
full story
<i>Rabbi Scott Aaron</i>
You kiss your mother with that mouth? Blasphemy then and now
Parshat Emor, Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 This week’s portion ends with a troubling story of blasphemy, social isolation and death.  (I know … a lot of our Torah portions have troubling stories of bla...
Apr 25, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
full story
<i>Rabbi James Gibson</i>
‘Can’t we all just get along?’
Achare Mot–Kedoshim, Leviticus 16:1-20:27 Those famous words, “Can’t we all just get along?” were plaintively said by Rodney King, whose beating at the hands of the Los Angeles Police more than ...
Apr 18, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
full story
<i>Rabbi Joe Hample</i>
Getting it together
Tazria-Metzora, Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Just between you and me, I feel a lot of ambivalence.  I’m full of faith and doubt, calm and stress, gloom and hope.  I’m an introverted extrovert, a sloppy p...
Apr 10, 2013 | 1 1 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend
full story
<i>Rabbi David Novitsky</i>
That which enters your mouth is also important
Shemini, Leviticus 9:1-11:47 There are those who believe that the Jewish dietary laws were given to the people of Israel primarily for health concerns.  They maintain that the unclean animals enu...
Apr 04, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
full story
Archives
The stream of spirituality, or lost at sea
Tzav, Leviticus 6:1-8:36
by Rabbi Mark Joel Mahler
Temple Emanuel of South Hills
Mar 25, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend
This spring marks my 30th anniversary at Temple Emanuel, 25 years as senior rabbi. Shortly after I arrived in 1980, the president of Temple Emanuel told me of a conversation she’d had with my pred...
A righteous leader
Vayikra, Leviticus 1:1-5:26
by Rabbi David Novitsky
Beth Israel Congregation, Washington
Mar 18, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 15 15 recommendations | email to a friend
In this week’s Torah reading we commence the study of the book of Leviticus, which teaches us about the kohanim. The first part of this Torah section describes in vivid details the rules and proce...
When do we group ourselves together?
Vayakhel-Pekudei, Exodus 35:1-40:38, 12:1-20 <
by Rabbi Barbara AB Symons
Temple David
Mar 11, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend
“Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community. …” so begins this week’s double portion, Vayakhel-Pekudei. The verse is introductory; it is a lead-in to a reminder of observing Shabbat, buildi...
Count us in!
Ki Tissa, 30:11-34:35; Numbers 19:1-22
by Rabbi Ezra Ende
Temple Sinai
Mar 04, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 14 14 recommendations | email to a friend
Our Torah portion “Ki Tissa” begins with the command to count the Israelite people by the head. This is pretty similar to what is going on in our country these days: the 2010 census! The reasons fo...
‘I’ll leave the light on’
Tetzaveh, Exodus 27:20-30:10
by Rabbi Amy B. Hertz
Rodef Shalom Congregation
Feb 25, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 17 17 recommendations | email to a friend
“Mom, I am heading out for the night. I am taking the car.” “Have a good time, Amy, drive carefully… and I’ll leave the front porch light on for you.” I remember having that same conversation with...
When what we own is not really ours
Teruma, Exodus 25:1-27:19
by Rabbi Michael Werbow
Congregation Beth Shalom
Feb 18, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 14 14 recommendations | email to a friend
Of the things we own, what is really ours? And what decisions do we make regarding the things in our ownership? Contemplating this idea is the focal point of our parsha this Shabbat. In Parshat Ter...
The exit strategy: keeping mitzvot change
Beshalach, Exodus 13:17-17:16
by Rabbi Nosson Sachs
UPMC-Shadyside
Jan 28, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend
It’s a scene from a nightmare: Millions of women and children defended by men who were never trained to use the weapons they carried out of Egypt. Their backs to the sea, no defensive barriers on t...
Is it really fair?
Bo, Exodus 10:1-13:16
by Rabbi Ron Symons
Temple Sinai
Jan 21, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend
Each year, as we read these sections of the Book of Exodus and then reread them later in the year at our Passover table, I wonder about the apparent capricious and violent nature of the plagues. Ye...
Frogs here, frogs there, frogs were jumping — tomorrow?
Vaera, Exodus 6:2-9:35
by Rabbi Sharyn Henry
Rodef Shalom Congregation
Jan 14, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 17 17 recommendations | email to a friend
At many Pesach seders, frogs get a lot of attention these days. Before or after the recitation of the 10 plagues from the hagada, it has become common for children to jump around and sing, “One mor...
A hug sent through time as Shemot begins
Shemot, Exodus 1:1-6:1
by Rabbi Aaron Bisno
Rodef Shalom Congregation
Jan 07, 2010 | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend
This week we begin the Book of Exodus, which is called Shemot or “Names.” Why is it called Shemot? Because we learn of true human connection through Exodus’ first words, which are a listing of nam...