V’Zot HaBracha: Unseen Lands
As the Torah closes, Moses goes up from the steppes of Moab to Mount Nebo. G-d shows him the land. He sees from afar. So much…
Read articleKi Tavo: Be the Blessing
This week’s parasha, Ki Tavo, lists blessings and curses. “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you harken to the voice of…
Read articleKi Teitzei 5775: Amalek Within
Amalek is the arch-villain of Torah. This week’s portion, Ki Teitzei, refers to an incident in Exodus just after the people crossed the Red Sea. The…
Read articleShofetim: To the Streets
One of Torah’s famous instructions appears in this week’s parsha: “Justice, justice shalt thou pursue…” (Deut. 16:20) The context is establishing a legal system, but our ethos…
Read articleRe’eh: Cutting, A Prayer to End Self-Mutilation
Self-mutilation is as old as the Bible. That grief came to mind reading this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh. “Ye are the children of Adonai your G-d;…
Read articleVa’etchanan: Affirmation of Faith
This week’s Torah portion, Va’etchanan, includes both the 10 Commandments and the bold declaration of our belief in G-d, the sine qua non of Jewish affirmations, the…
Read articleDevarim 5775: Teachers of Israel
We begin the final book of Torah this week with Parashat Devarim, detailing the last weeks in the life of Moses, in which he shifts from…
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