Continuity ensured
Nitzavim-Vayelech — Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20, 31:1-31:30
September 1, 2010
This week’s portion begins as Moses finishes recounting the laws of the Torah to the Israelite people, and preparations begin for the transference of leadership from Moses to Joshua. Read More
Learning to praise
Ki Tavo — Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
August 26, 2010
Because the Torah prescribes precisely what the person bringing first fruits must say, the rabbis ruled that this is one of the relatively few things that must be recited in Hebrew exactly as written. Read More
Words can never harm me?
Ki Tetze — Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
August 18, 2010
For many of us, the first pieces of wisdom which we learned were from nursery rhymes and schoolyard jingles. Sometimes these childish lessons had value, but more often they distorted a truer perspective on life. Read More
The resemblance between trees and us
Shoftim — Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
August 11, 2010
I love metaphors. An apt metaphor can help stimulate boundless creativity and can lead to a deeper and richer understanding of the concept being studied. Read More
Advertisement
The blessing of choosing Judaism
Re’e Deuteronomy - 11:26-16:17
August 4, 2010
This Shabbat we say Birchat Hahodesh announcing the new month of Elul, which begins Aug. 10. In fact, we always read parashat Re’e on the Shabbat immediately before Rosh Hodesh Elul (or, in some years, on Rosh Hodesh itself). Read More
Singers or growlers
Ekev — Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25
July 29, 2010
Millions of people have gone through life intent on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. The crass form of this philosophy, hedonism, is rightly condemned as unrealistic and immoral. Read More
What we should pray for
Shabbat Nahamu - Va’ethanan — Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
July 21, 2010
All religious people and even those not theologically inclined have been confounded by this question: Why are my prayers not answered? Read More
All is fair — or is it?
Devarim — Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
July 14, 2010
Devarim begins with Moses’ review of the history of the wilderness years, including an event we first learned about in parshat Yitro. Read More
Keeping promises
Matot-Masei — Numbers 30:2-32:42/33:1-36:13
July 7, 2010
If you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail, I guess, and I am a rabbi and a liturgist to boot, so when I see the sedra instructing us that we must carry out our vows, I naturally think of the prayer that accomplishes just the opposite. Read More
Lessons in leadership
Pinchas — Numbers 25:10-30:1
June 30, 2010
Too often leaders cling to power. Intoxicated by the privileges of their position, they become blinded to their own vulnerabilities and oblivious of their own mortality. Read More
Shul Shopping?
Check out the online Synagogue listings for your community:
Follow NJJN