Touch of Torah

Good business sense

Toldot — Genesis 25:19-28:9

It must be nice to have a job where you go to work each day and help people — like you, rabbi. I just make money; I buy and sell. It’s just business. That’s it.” With regularity, people tell me this. And they are wrong. Read More

Missing voices of the matriarchs

Hayei Sara — Genesis 23:1-25:18

Sarah’s lifetime — the span of Sarah’s life —came to 127 years. Sarah died in Kiryat-Arba — now Hebron — in the land of Canaan; and Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah and to bewail her.” (Genesis 23:1-2) With these words, the Torah takes leave of the first matriarch of Jewish tradition, about whom we know little but enough to appreciate her essential attributes and contributions. Read More

Welcoming the stranger

Vayera — Genesis 18:1-22:24

At the beginning of this week’s parsha, Abraham is sitting at the door of his tent when he sees three men. And even though, as the rabbis tell us, he is recuperating from his self-administered circumcision, he jumps up, runs to greet them, and invites them to be his guests. Read More

The truest of partnerships

Noach — Genesis 6:9-11:32

Come, let us go down and there confound their language, so that they shall not understand one another’s speech.” (Genesis 11:7) What is the connection between Adam’s existential state of aloneness and the tragic social isolation resulting from the Tower of Babel, when one universal language is replaced by 70 languages, leading to bedlam and dispersion? Read More

Poison envy

Bereshit — Genesis 1:1-6:8

Why did God favor Abel and his offering? The Torah doesn’t tell us. In any case, Cain was upset and angry. But rather than directing his anger toward God, he turned against his brother. Read More

Going for the joy

Shemini Atzeret — Simhat Torah

Life is not a bed of roses, but it’s not a funeral either. Without denying the brutal reality of human suffering, we Jews stress life (“l’chaim,” we say) and joy. Nothing illustrates that message better than the week of Sukkot and the holiday following, Simhat Torah. Read More

A fitting book

Sukkot

The Bible has five special books known as the megillot, or scrolls. Esther is read at Purim, the Song of Songs at Pesach, Ruth on Shavuot, and Lamentations on Tisha B’Av. The fifth scroll, the Book of EcclesiastesKohelet — is read during Sukkot. Read More

Angels and animals

Ha’azinu — Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Ha’azinu contains the prophetic poem known as the “Song of Moses.” It begins with words of moral teaching, contrasting the virtue of God to the wickedness of Israel. It then tells of God’s goodness to Israel, Israel’s prosperity and rebellion, and God’s punishment for breaking the covenant. Finally, it speaks of God’s mercy, that God will save His people from their enemies. Read More

Where are you?

Rosh Hashana

Why do religion columns say so little about religion? Business sections describe business and sports pages give us sports, but religion articles report on denominational organizations, new trends in prayer, and what rabbis are saying from the pulpit — not religion itself. Read More

Adopting an attitude of gratitude

Nitzavim/Vayelech — Deuteronomy 29:9-30:30/31:1-31:30

“Thank you” — I think those two words are the most important in our language. I often recommend to new parents that these two words be among the first things their baby learns to say. Read More

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