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Parashat Mishpatim: A Little Hope Among a Broken World
To Sit in Shiva As a Nation, As a People This was the title of an email I sent out yesterday. And today, I want to share some of its...
Feb 21


Parashat Yitro: The overwhelming sense of awe and disquiet in our generation
Parshat Yitro recounts the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, an event that, according to our tradition, involved all Jewish souls—past,...
Feb 14


Parashat Beshalach: We Will Sing Again; We Will Dance Again
I’ve mentioned before that I like to create almost theatrical images in my mind of the Torah moments that touch me deeply. The crossing...
Feb 7


Parashat Bo: The Worst Kind of Darkness
Why is it that the Torah ALWAYS reflects situations from our own reality? Why do the examples and stories of our People seem to update...
Feb 1


Parashat Vaera: A Kind of Magic
I don’t believe in the magical aspects of the Torah. I know there are many who do. I believe in an all-powerful God. So powerful, in...
Jan 23


Parashat Shmot: Never forget the Names
“And these are the names…” This is how the book of Shmot, also known as Exodus, begins, naming each of the sons of Yaakov. It is...
Jan 17


Parashat Vayechi: A Reflection on Life and Legacy
This week, in Parashat Vayechi, we encounter something particularly striking: Our third patriarch, Jacob, departs from this world, and...
Jan 10


Parashat Miketz: Finding Light Even in the Deepest Pit
This Parasha represents a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Torah. Two prominent figures, Yehuda and Yosef, come face to face. This...
Jan 3


Parashat Miketz: Finding Light Even in the Deepest Pit
Parshat Miketz invites us to reflect on the human ability to discover light amid darkness and build hope even in the most challenging...
Dec 27, 2024


Parashat Vayeshev: Seeking the patterns from our parents
As parents, we often forget that our choices, our ways of being, our decisions—in short, our example—leave a lasting imprint on the minds...
Dec 20, 2024


Parashat Vayishlach: How Do We Reconnect with Others in the Face of Hatred and Pain?
How do we set aside past mistakes and work together with those who have hurt us? Parshat Vayishlach speaks to us fundamentally about...
Dec 13, 2024


Parashat Vayetze: Was Yaacov the Best Choice?
Last week in Parashat Toldot, we asked why Isaac? Why was Isaac the second patriarch? Today, we ask the same question for Jacob. Why...
Dec 6, 2024


Parashat Chayei Sarah: Resilience for Peace
Parshat Chayei Sarah begins with the story of Sarah's death and ends with the death of the one who is considered the founding father of...
Nov 24, 2024


Parashat Vayera: Our Responsibility for the Future
This week’s parasha, Vayera, carries a powerful theme of continuity. It speaks explicitly about our role as a link in the chain, urging...
Nov 15, 2024


Parashat Lech Lecha: To Grow Up to The Heavens
Lech Lecha Go forth from your land, from the place of your birth, from your father’s home to the land I will show you. I will give this...
Nov 8, 2024


Parashat Noach: A Need for a Change
The two predominant stories in this week’s parashah, the well-known story of Noah and the equally famous tale of the Tower of Babel,...
Nov 1, 2024


Sukkot: Working Each Day to be Closer to the Lord
Sukkot, unlike the rest of the pilgrimage festivals, does not commemorate any specific historical event. On Sukkot, we rather celebrate...
Oct 17, 2024


Yom Kippur: A Meaningful Fast, a Significant Life Change
It was the time between Musaf and Mincha on Yom Kippur, and young Daniel Shapiro went to see his Rabbi. "Rabbi Pollak, you must help me....
Oct 14, 2024


Rosh Hashanah: Time for Great Decisions
Gathering once again in this beautiful Sanctuary, in this Beit Kneset, a house of assembly for so many years and a synagogue that has...
Oct 3, 2024


Parashat Nitzavim: We Were All There
On a flight to Buenos Aires, I once met a man who hugged me as if we had known each other our whole lives. I looked at him, and he...
Sep 27, 2024
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