Dvarim
Parashat Nitzavim-VaYelekh
By Rabbi Robert Freedman Two phrases vie for the honor of being the most important in the Torah, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and “Humanity was made in the divine image.” Humbly I’d like to nominate another for one of … Continue reading »
Parashat Ki Tavo
By Rabbi Jaron Matlow Lately I have been focusing on Theodicy, the problem of evil in the world. Over the last several years, I have experienced a number of health issues that left me on total disability. In Parashat … Continue reading »
Parashat Ki Tetze
September 11th: Remembering to Forget, Forgetting to Remember By Rabbi Regina L. Sandler-Phillips “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, in your going-out from Egypt….erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens; do not forget!” (Deuteronomy … Continue reading »
Parashat Shoftim
Ki ata ba el-ha’aretz, asher Adonai Elohekha notein lekha-lo tilmad la’asot, keto’avot hagoyim haheim, “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations” … Continue reading »
Parashat Re’eh
By Rabbi Dorit Edut and Cantor Liat Pelman A Dialogue on Blessings vs. “Curses“ Dorit: As we approach the month of Elul next week and thoughts of Rosh HaShanah are not far off, we are confronted by a verse in … Continue reading »
Parashat VaEthanan
By Cantor Marcia Lane In this second parashah in the book of Deuteronomy Moses continues his long death-bed peroration to the Israelite people. He reiterates the division of the land to the tribes, restates (with minor differences) the Aseret HaDibrot … Continue reading »
Parashat D’varim
Vision, Lamentation, and the Question of “How?” By Rabbi Regina L. Sandler-Phillips The Shabbat on which the first portion of Deuteronomy is chanted from the Torah each year is called Shabbat Hazon—the “Sabbath of Vision.” Its name comes most directly … Continue reading »
Parashat Ha’azinu
By Michael Kasper How do we make sense of God as elegant, majestic, and breathtaking in one moment and vindictive, jealous, and consumed in the next? Is there a force more cunning than God shows himself to be in this … Continue reading »
Parashat Nitzavim-VaYelekh
Nitzavim-VaYelekh, our double portion for this week, includes the 7th Haftarah in a series of Haftarot of Comfort and Consolation, read on the 7 Shabbatot following Tisha B’Av. It is read on the Shabbat just preceding Rosh Hashanah as we … Continue reading »
Parashat Ki Tavo
By Steve Altarescu If Deuteronomic theology has not troubled you so far, Ki Tavo will now challenge you as it pushes the concept of reward and punishment to the limit. For the purpose of review here are some highlights of … Continue reading »