This week we read Parshat Shemini, a portion that, as its name suggests, speaks of the “eighth day” — that inaugural day when the people...

This Friday, at nightfall, we begin the seventh day of Pesach.  According to our tradition, it was on this day that the sea split, and...

This Shabbat we are about to begin is another special one. Not only do we read Parshat Tzav, but since it is the Shabbat before Pesach,...

Vayikra — “And He called.”   It’s not just the beginning of a new book of the Torah — it’s also a personal invitation. Not a command, not...

A reminder that the offices of Temple Beth El will be housed at Sitrin for the months of April, May and June. Shabbat services and...

It has been over 500 days of learning that the world is not as safe as it once seemed, that many of those who appeared to be close to us...

The crisis of trust in leadership during times of distress is a recurring theme in Jewish history. Today, as trust erodes and the sense...

This week's parashah is Parashat Vayakhel: And He Gathered. Moses calls upon the entire people to come together, to be united. The last...

Today was Ta’anit Esther, the fast that precedes Purim. It is a good time to reflect on the meaning of Megillat Esther, its place in the...

In Parshat Tetzavé, the children of Israel are commanded to bring pure olive oil to keep the Ner Tamid, the eternal lamp in the Mishkan,...

This week, I want to begin by sharing a Midrash regarding Parshat Terumah. The Midrash, as you know, is a rabbinic explanation, typically...

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...

Parshat Yitro recounts the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, an event that, according to our tradition, involved all Jewish souls—past,...

I realize Chanukah was in December but the deadline for the January issue was before the amazing party at the JCC. Many thanks are in...

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...

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...

The lessons of history are many. Among the most important is the way that events of the past teach us howt o better view the present and...

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...

“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...

This week, in Parashat Vayechi, we encounter something particularly striking: Our third patriarch, Jacob, departs from this world, and...