Parashat Shoftim begins with one of the most famous declarations in all of Judaism: צדק צדק תרדוף “justice, justice you must pursue.” (Deut. 16.20) It fits nicely on a placard if you’re participating in a protest; it’s a memorable tagline for your email signature; and once you dig into the Jewish commentary around this line, … Continue reading
Shabbat Re’eh: Seeing Hope, Being Blessing
This coming Shabbat is Shabbat Re’eh. We study a parashah named for the command “see!” רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה See, this day I set before you blessing and curse (Devarim 11.26) It is the second Shabbat of Consolation, a time in which our tradition urges us to lift up our heads from the searing despair of Tisha … Continue reading
Shabbat Ekev: How To Be Loyal (not to Haman but to Life)
Do you believe in cause and effect? The opening of this week’s parashat hashavua insists on precisely this: events follow in the wake of other events in a causative fashion. Let us be more precise: do you understand the effect of your acts on others, on your society, and on the world in which you … Continue reading
Shabbat Nakhamu: What If There Is No Consolation?
What if we don’t get there? This week our parashat hashavua is named for the pleading of our leader Moshe before HaShem; he begged to be allowed to take the final steps into the Land promised to his people, to see it for himself. אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֗א וְאֶרְאֶה֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן הָהָ֥ר הַטּ֛וֹב הַזֶּ֖ה … Continue reading
Shabbat Pinhas: The Three Weeks
This year, Shabbat Pinhas is the first Shabbat of the Three Weeks. These three weeks are the least auspicious period in the entire Jewish year, leading up as they do to Tisha B’Av, the day on which, two thousand years ago, the Second Jerusalem Temple was destroyed. Our people began a two thousand year … Continue reading
Shabbat Balak: Fear and Loathing, and a Talking Ass
This week, parashat Balak allows us to appreciate the importance of parables to communicate difficult truths concisely and memorably. As our story opens, one King Balak of Moab hears his people talking about the immigrants – the Israelites – nearing their border: “This horde will consume everything around us like cows eat all the … Continue reading
