Torah Reflections

Vayeira Genesis 18:1-22:24 In his life storyline, Abraham did not always rise to the occasion of his ethical challenges. Yet this aspect of his story is worthy of praise: his standing up to God in the episode of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham remained standing before the...

B'reishit Genesis 1:1-6:8 Abel was a Shepherd and Cain tilled the soil. And it was, after the passing of days, that Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the Eternal; and as for Abel, he too brought [an offering] from among the choice firstlings...

Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8 This week’s Torah portion begins: “When you enter the land that the Eternal your God is giving you as a heritage, and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of every fruit of the soil, which you harvest from the land that...

Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19 Each year, when I meet Ki Teitzei I realize again why so many people are moved to abandon any kind of religious pursuit. Though we find many uplifting verses about ethical living in society 2,500 years ago, some of what we read in...

R'eih Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17   How do I invite God into my life? How do I fill my life with the Divine Presence moment to moment? These are the questions many of us on the spiritual path ask ourselves. And more often than not, the answer comes back simple and...

  Eikev Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25 In the middle of this Torah portion, Moses once again admonishes our people for our intractable stubbornness:  “Know, then, that it is not for any virtue of yours that the Eternal your God is giving you this good land to possess;...

Balak Numbers 22:2 - 25:9 The story of Balaam and his donkey is one of the most peculiar and intriguing stories in all of Torah. For one thing, the narrative throughout Torah is normally pithy and succinct, with no unnecessary details. The main story line ever since...

Chukat Numbers 19:1 - 22:1 Thirty-eight years have passed since our last Torah portion, and the Israelites who had known the slavery of Egypt have all died. The new generation’s only memory of captivity in Egypt is the tales their parents left behind. Metaphorically,...

B'haalot'cha Numbers 8:1 - 12:16 Arguably the most important event in the entire Jewish Bible is the moment of Matan Torah, when we were gifted with the Torah during the Revelation at Sinai. There, atop the trembling mountain wreathed in smoke, God spoke the Ten...

B'chukotai Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34   “If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments, I will grant your rains in their season, so that the earth shall yield its produce and the trees of the field their fruit.” (Lev. 26:3-4) Thus promises the Eternal...

Kedoshim Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27   “The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the entire Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” (Lev. 19:1-2) Many rabbinic and scholarly commentators read this Divine...

Metzorah Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33   Parashat M’tzora is usually read around the time of Passover, which means that it often coincides with our preparations for the quintessential Jewish festival. This spring cleaning is both an outer process of emptying our homes...