Haye Sarah – Hebron the Holy City
The historical connection between the Jewish people and the city of Hebron began over three thousand years ago. Upon the passing of his beloved wife Sarah, Abraham sought a burial site for her. […]
Category Archives: Torah
Torah Thoughts Informed by my AshkeSephard Worldview
Lekh Lekha – Really Going Places and JICNY
I was recently honored by JICNY, The Jewish International Connection of NY. The organization creates a social, religious and networking community for Jews in their 20s and 30s living in […]
Noah – Life’s Ports of Call
Noah survives the flood by building a boat to withstand the waves, and in doing so also saves life as we know it. There is a strong correlation between this […]
Aseret Yemei Hateshuva/Ha’azinu – Thinking Differently
Most years on Shabbat Teshuva (‘The Shabbat of Repentance,’ between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) we read the parashah of Ha’azinu. Contained in its words are exhortations to serve God and […]
Rosh Hashanah – Martyrdom or Life?
The central Torah reading of Rosh Hashanah is Akedat Yitzhak, the Binding of Isaac (indeed, the first day’s reading may very well just be a lead up to it). The […]
Nitzavim – We Are All Wood Choppers
Curiously included among those ‘who stand (nitzavim) before God,’ are the wood choppers and water drawers (Deuteronomy 29:10), people whose jobs require great physical exertion. Who are these menial laborers? Da’at Zekenim (Tosafot) […]
Shavuot – Choosing to be Jewish
In anticipation of Shavuot I’ve been thinking about a well know Talmudic aggadah and I was surprised to find myself understanding it in a new way. I refer here to […]
Sefirat Ha’omer and Transformations
The mitzvah of Sefirat Haomer, is the counting of days and weeks from Pesah to Shavuot. More precisely though, the count is not from Pesah but from the Omer offering, […]
Passover and The Living Law of Moses
It is true that Christianity is inextricably tied to Judaism. Not only is this so historically, but also theologically, as in the Christian self-conception as ‘New Israel.’ This adoption, or […]
Purim and the Secret Esthers of Today
There is a custom on Purim to wear masks. The origins of this practice likely lies in the Christian celebration of Carnival, and its calendrical proximity to Purim. However, the […]
Shalom Says Hello 