Throughout many generations of wandering in Exile, our ancestors would begin to develop our community institutions whenever we came to a new place, and it seemed like we would be able to stay for a while. The first such institution was neither the beit midrash (learning center) nor a beit knesset (center for gathering and prayer) – itContinue reading “Shabbat Hayei Sarah: Kindness Trumps Rights”
Tag Archives: parashat hashavua
Shabbat VaYera: Sodom and Gomorrah
Our parashah this week is VaYera, “he saw”, referring to Abraham, and his ability to see the Image of G*d in a stranger. Our reading, from the second year of the Triennial Cycle, brings us to one of the most infamous passages in the entire Torah, perhaps the entire Bible: the story of Sodom andContinue reading “Shabbat VaYera: Sodom and Gomorrah”
Shabbat Lekh L’kha: Go Forth, in Jewish
This week we cannot assert that the Jewish lifelines of Torah study and prayer are irrelevant for our day. This week it is almost unnerving how much the Torah and our Jewish tradition have to say to us to guide our thoughts and decisions. The haftarah for this Shabbat asserts: The coastlands look on inContinue reading “Shabbat Lekh L’kha: Go Forth, in Jewish”
Shabbat Noakh: The Fire This Time
On this Shabbat we are confronted with an intense and perplexing narrative. First, the world is overwhelmed with hamas, “lawless violence”, and then flooded unto utter destruction. The few who survive the catastrophic end of their world do not live happily ever after: a son takes advantage of his father’s vulnerability, reckless leaders gather followersContinue reading “Shabbat Noakh: The Fire This Time”
Shabbat Bereshit: Get Naked
This week, as we begin again to encounter Torah, we are back at the beginning. The first chapters encompass so much: The world is created: human beings exist, and interact with all other forms of life on earth as well as with each other. And there, of course, is where it gets complicated. Here’s where we start:Continue reading “Shabbat Bereshit: Get Naked”
Shabbat Hol HaMo’ed Sukkot: We Must (find time to) Celebrate
It is easy to miss our fall Harvest Festival of Sukkot in the stress created by the confluence of the Jewish New Year, marked by Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, with the start of the school year and the ramping up of fall activities for all of us after what is at least supposed toContinue reading “Shabbat Hol HaMo’ed Sukkot: We Must (find time to) Celebrate”
Shabbat HaAzinu: Listen!
HaAzinu means “listen!” – “pay attention!” Now, in these few days between Yom Kippur and the start of our Sukkot holy day, now, when we are rushed to prepare not only for that Festival but for all that our New Year brings. “Listen!” The words of our parashah, Moshe’s final song, ring out over the agesContinue reading “Shabbat HaAzinu: Listen!”
Shabbat Shuvah: How Will You Go On the Last Day?
At the beginning of our parashat hashavua it is written: Vayelekh Moshe; vay’dabeyr et kol had’varim ha’eyleh el kol Yisrael, “Moshe went; he spoke all these things to all Israel” (Devarim 31.1) Although this form of speech may seem familiar to some of us (i.e. “he went and spoke”, or “he’s gone and done itContinue reading “Shabbat Shuvah: How Will You Go On the Last Day?”
Shabbat Nitzavim: What We Owe
Our parashat hashavua (Torah reading of the week) begins with quite a compelling scene: the entire Israelite community, gathered together on just the other side of the Jordan River from the Land of forty years’ struggle and search. The parashah begins with “you are standing this day, all of you, before G*d….to enter into theContinue reading “Shabbat Nitzavim: What We Owe”
Shabbat Shoftim: You Too Are a Judge, and Must Be
The beginning of parashat Shoftim calls for us to ensure justice in the communities in which we live. שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים, תִּתֶּן-לְךָ בְּכָל-שְׁעָרֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ, לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ; וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת-הָעָם, מִשְׁפַּט-צֶדֶק. Set up judges and officers in all your gates, everywhere that you are privileged to live by G*d’s grace. The judges must judge theContinue reading “Shabbat Shoftim: You Too Are a Judge, and Must Be”
Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone 