Torah Musings
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Shabbat Nachamu Parashat Vaetchanan Deut. 3:23-7:11 (Triennial: Deut. 3:23-5:18) Haftarah Isaiah 40:1-26 ***To view sources referred to below, click here. Siman tov u’mazal tov! We offer these words of good wishes at every bar or bat mitzvah, wedding, and other happy occasions, but we probably don’t give much thought to what this actually means.The literal translation…
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Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 (Triennial: 1:1-2:1) Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1 – 1:27 This week, we begin a new book of the Torah, Devarim or Deuteronomy. The book consists of Moses’s final address to the people, after leading them through the Exodus from Egypt, the receiving of the Torah, and forty years of wandering through the desert. Now, as…
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As I reflect on the meaning of Tisha B’Av this year, I have felt myself pulled in two different directions. On the one hand, it feels difficult to turn away from the overwhelming brokenness of our world to focus on the specificity of the tragedies marked by Tisha B’av. But from another perspective, Tisha B’Av…
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In the Torah’s account of the revelation at Mt. Sinai, the people’s response initially seems to be one of compliance or obedience, as they anticipate the coming revelation: (Ex. 19:8) וַיַּעֲנ֨וּ כָל־הָעָ֤ם יַחְדָּו֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר ה’ נַעֲשֶׂ֑ה! All the people answered as one, saying, “All that Hashem has spoken we will do!” (Ex. 19:8)…
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On this date in the Hebrew calendar, the 5th of Iyyar, 72 years ago, the State of Israel declared its independence. In the years since, Israel has struggled for its survival and thrived, become a home to Jews from around the world, and built a unique national culture and identity. It is incredibly moving to…
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Without being able to pray in community during this time of social distancing, I found myself missing the opportunity to some of the special prayers and readings that we do during the Passover holiday. I recorded these videos partly as a way of helping people feel connected to the holiday at home, and partly because…
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Over the last few weeks, the coronavirus epidemic has hit closer to home. Our friends and Jewish neighbors in Westchester County have been particularly affected and cases of the virus have now been identified here in Bergen County. We pray for a speedy and complete healing for those who are ill and wish comfort for…
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Over the last couple of weeks, with a slower pace in the mornings and no school drop-offs to make or appointments to get to, I have been experiencing a renewal in my connection to tefillah, prayer. One of the things that I deeply appreciate about the siddur (prayerbook) is that while the words of the…
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While most of us are spending much more time than usual in our homes, the world is in blossom all around us. On our walks around the neighborhood, my son and I have tracked the appearance of the first buds on the trees and flowers peeking up from the ground. With spring in the air,…
