D'VAR TORAH: A LOOK AT THE TORAH PORTION OF THE WEEK
September 4, 2021
NITZAVIM, DEUTERONOMY 29:9-30:2
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Writing Women into the Torah by Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses
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From SouthStreetTemple.org: Nitzavim
August 28, 2021
KI TAVO, DEUTERONOMY 26:1-29:8
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From MyJewishLearning.com: When you Enter In by Nancy Reuben Greenfield
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From ReformJudaism.org: From Temple Sacrifices to High Holiday Rituals by Cantor Evan Kent
August 21, 2021
KI TEITZEI, DEUTERONOMY 21:10-25:19
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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The Power of Collective Memory by Cantor Evan Kent
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Ki Teitzei for Teens, Shabbat Sha-raps
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August 14, 2021
SHOFTIM, DEUTERONOMY 16:18-21:9
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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Social Justice in My Bones by Evan Kent
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Shof'tim for Teens, Shabbat Sha'raps
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August 7, 2021
RE'EH, DEUTERONOMY 11:26-16:17
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The Office of Rabbi Sacks: Defining Reality by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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MyJewishLearning.com: Telling and Retelling by Anat Barber
July 31, 2021
EIKEV, DEUTERONOMY 7:12-11:25
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Winning the Divine Lottery by Rabbi Dan Ross
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From ReformJudaism.org: Survival and Sustenance by Jonathan Cohen
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From RabbiSacks.org: To Lead is to Listen by the Late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
July 24, 2021
VAETCHANAN, DEUTERONOMY 3:23-7:11
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From MyJewishLearning.com:
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Inverse Tablets by Mindy Berman
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The Smallest of Peoples by Pamela Katz
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July 17, 2021
DEVARIM, DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:22
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From Chabad.org: Recalling the Story, Long After It's Told by Karen Wolfers-Rappaport
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From RabbiSacks.org: Family Edition by the Late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
July 10, 2021
MATOT-MASEI, NUMBERS 30:2-36:13
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From ReformJudaism.org: Out of the Shadows and Beyond the Fear: Zelophehad's Daughters' Daughters by Rabbi Carol Bailin Ph.D.
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From RabbiSacks.org: Family Edition by the Late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
July 3, 2021
PINCHAS, NUMBERS 25:10-30.1
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From MyJewishLearning.com:
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Dispossession of Women’s Land by Rachel Farbiarz
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Zeal and Peace by Rabbi Howard Alpert
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June 26, 2021
BALAK, NUMBERS 22:2-25.9
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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How to Avoid Getting Stuck in Balak's Trap by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, Ph. D.
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Whose Word is it Anyway? by Steven Kushner
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June 19, 2021
CHUKAT, NUMBERS 19:1-22:1
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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In the End, There Was Love by Rabbi Alex Kress
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Experiencing Torah Through Reckless Abandon in the Wilderness by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, Ph.D.
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Shabbat Sha-raps (for Teens)
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Responding to Thirst by Jordana Schuster
June 12, 2021
KORACH, NUMBERS 16:1-18:32
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From Schechter.edu: The Elusiveness of Honor by Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin
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From Reform Judaism.org: How Leaders Can Use Guilt to Control a People by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, Ph.D.
June 5, 2021
SH'LACH, NUMBERS 13:1-15:41
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From MyJewishLearning.com: The Perils of Groupthink by Rabbi Asher Lopatin
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From SouthStreetTemple.org: Torah Portion Sh'lach
May 29, 2021
BEHA'ALOTCHA, NUMBERS 8:1-12:16
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Leaving Childhood Behind by Rabbi Shimon Felix
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From ReformJudaism.org: Bringing Up Israel--Parenting a New Nation by Rabbi Lisa Grushcow
May 22, 2021
NASSO, NUMBERS 4:21-7:89
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From MyJewishLearning.com:
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In the Priestly Blessing, Seeing Parenthood’s Trajectory by Noah Arnow
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Children and Jealousy by Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses
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May 15, 2021
BAMIDBAR, NUMBERS 1:1-4:20
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From MyJewishLearning.com: When Women are Invisible by Sivan Rotholz
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From American Jewish World Service: Bamidbar by Rabbi David Singer
May 8, 2021
BEHAR, LEVITICUS 25:1-26:2
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From The Office of Rabbi Sacks: The Power of a Curse by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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From ReformJudaism.org: Joining God as Resident Strangers in the World by Rabbi Ben Spratt
May 1, 2021
EMOR, LEVITICUS 21:1-24:23
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From Jewish World Service: Dvar Tzedek by Rachel Farbiarz
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From MyJewishLearning.com: The Cruel Demands of Purity and Beauty by Dr. Shulamit Reinharz
April 24, 2021
ACHAREI MOT-KEDOSHIM, LEVITICUS 16:1-20:27
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From The Office of Rabbi Sacks
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2021: Sprints and Marathons by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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2017: Judaism's Three Voices by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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April 17, 2021
TAZRIA-METZORA, LEVITICUS 12:1-15:33
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Illness, Isolation and Lessons Learned by Rabbi Hazzan Rachel Tilchin
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From Aish.com:
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Fred Rogers and the Power of Words by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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Lesson in Humility by N.Y. Safran (Family-focused discussion)
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April 10, 2021
SHEMINI, LEVITICUS 9:1-11:47
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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You Are What You Eat: The New World of Kosher Food by Rabbi Lance Sussman
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Shemini for Teens, Sha-raps
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March 27, 2021
TZAV, LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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From the Altar to the Bimah—What is Expected of a Leader? by Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg
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Never Too Proud to Wield the Sacred Shovel by Rabbi Ben Spratt
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Tzav for Teens, Shabbat Sha-raps
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March 20, 2021
VAYIKRA, LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26
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From ReformJudaism.org: The Power of Sacrifice, Then and Now by Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg
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From MyJewishLearning.com: The Pending Guilt Climate and the Global Climate by Shlomo Levin
March 13, 2021
VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI, EXODUS 35:1-40:38
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From website dedicated to teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks: Celebrate
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From Aish.com:
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Revenge is a dish best not served by Harry Rothenberg
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March 6, 2021
KI TISA, EXODUS 30:11-34:35
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From Aish.com
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The Injustice of Judgement by Rabbi Yitzchak Zweig
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For Children--Caring for Others by Nesanel Y. Safran
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February 27, 2021
TETZAVEH, EXODUS 27:20-30:10
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From Aish.com
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Crushed for the Light by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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Balancing Our Children's Education. A Video with Eitiel Goldwicht
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February 20, 2021
TERUMAH, EXODUS 25:1-27:19
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Hidden Gifts by Rabbi Nicole Auerbach
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From Keshet online: A Mandatory Donation by David Katzenelson
February 13, 2021
MISHPATIM, EXODUS 21:1-24:18
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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A Continuity of Law by Rabbi Reuven Greenvald
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February 6, 2021
YITRO, EXODUS 18:1-20:26
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From the Office of Rabbi Sacks: A Nation of Leaders by the late Rabbi Lord Sacks
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From ReconstructingJudaism.org: Hearing the Voice of God by Rabbi Howard Cohen
January 30, 2021
BESHALACH, EXODUS 13:17-17:16
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From AJWS.net (American Jewish World Service) Parshat Beshalach by Alana Alpert
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Parashat Beshalach: Summary by Nancy R. Greenfield
January 23, 2021
BO, EXODUS 10:1-13:16
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From Aish.com:
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The Story We Tell About Ourselves by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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Finding Courage (for Parents & Kids) by Nesanel Yoel Safran
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Visualizing the Exodus Experience by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski
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January 16, 2021
VA-EIRA, EXODUS 6:2-9:35
I (God) Appeared [to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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What It Takes to Fulfill the Promise by Rabbi Stephanie M. Alexander
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Why So Many Plagues by Rabbi Mary Zamore
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Shortness of Breath, Shortness of Spirit by Rabbi Sarah Bassin
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Who Really Hardened Paharaoh's Heart? by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
January 9, 2021
SHMOT, EXODUS 1:1-6:1
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From Aish.com:
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How We Relate to God Depends on How We Relate to Others by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski
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From MyJewishLearning.com: These are the Names by Rabbi Bradley Artson
January 2, 2021
VAYECHI, GENESIS 47:28-50:26
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From MyJewishLearning.com: The Legend of You and Me by Rabbi Devin Maimon Villarreal
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From ReformJudaism.org: Shabbat Sha-raps for Teens
December 26, 2020
VAYIGASH, GENESIS 44:18-47:27
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From MyJewishLearning.com:
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When Dreams Come True by Hanan Schlesinger
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Preparing for Exile by Rabbi Yitzchok A. Breitowitz
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From ReformJudaism.org: Shabbat Sha-raps for Teens
December 19, 2020
MIKETZ, GENESIS 41:1-44:17
In parshat Miketz we learn of how Joesph arrived in Egypt and his plan to bring Benjamin there as well.
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Coercion vs. Love by Rabbi Noah Arnow
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From Aish.com:
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Three Approaches to Dreams by Rabbi Lord Sacks
December 12, 2020
VAYEISHEV: GENESIS 37:1-40:23
Jacob now settled in the land of his father's sojourning, in the land of Canaan. - Genesis 37:1
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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The Most Painful Parts of Joseph’s Story Can Teach Us about Ourselves by Rabbi Michael Dolgin
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Who is the Support Cast in the Story of Your Life by Rabbi Dan Moskowitz
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December 5, 2020
VAYISHLACH, GENESIS 32:4-36:43
Jacob now sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, in the countryside of Edom. - Genesis 32:4
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From Aish.com:
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Who’s In Control by Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
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The Jewish Journey by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
November 28, 2020
VAYETZEI, GENESIS 28:10-32.3
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From MyJewishLearning.com: The Place with No Name by Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn
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From ReformJudaism.org: Shabbat Sha-raps for Teens
November 21, 2020
TOLDOT, GENESIS 25:19-28:9
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From MyJewishLearning.com: Why Rebecca Pushed Jacob to Get Esau's Blessing by Rabbi Nathan J. Diament
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From ReformJudaism.org: The Greatest Threat to Civilization by Rabbi Michael Dolgin
November 14, 2020
CHAYEI SARAH, GENESIS 23:1-25:18
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From ReformJudaism.org:
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What Torah Can Teach Us about Overcoming Loneliness by Rabbi Michael Dolgin
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Chayei Sarah for Teens--Shabbat Sha-raps
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From Aish.com: Coloring Pages on Chayei Sarah for Toddlers and Elementary Students
November 7, 2020
VAYERA, GENESIS 18:1-22:24
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From Jtsa.org:
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Itzik's Journey by David G. Roskies
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Women of Faith by Amy Kalmanofsky
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From ReformJudaism.org: Vayeira for Teens--Shabbat Sha-raps
October 31, 2020
LECH LECHA, GENESIS 12:1-17:27
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From Aish.com: An 8 Year-Old Behind the Wheel by Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich (Torah for children)
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From Rabbisacks.org: The Courage Not to Confirm by Rabbi Lord Sacks
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From usy.org: Lech Lecha by Aviya Cammy (for teens)
October 24, 2020
NOACH, GENESIS 6:9-11:32
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From Reformjudaism.org:
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Noach for Tots—How do We Understand Our Children? by Diana Fersko
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Noach for Teens—Shabbat Sha-raps
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From MyJewishlearning.com: The Earth was Filled with Violence by Daniel Bloom (for adults)
October 17, 2020
BERESHIT, GENESIS 1:1-6:8
Bereshit is perhaps the most read part of the Torah as it starts our collective story.
Summary from My Jewish Learning: In this Torah portion, God creates the world. After Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, they are banished from the Garden of Eden. Later Cain kills Abel. God then considers destroying all of Creation.
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From Reformjudaism.org:
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A Special Podcast with Singer David Broza (One can select to hear the podcast or read the transcript)
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What does it Mean to be Human by Rabbi Michael Dolgin
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From Myjewishlearning.com:
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The Two Creation Stories by Rabbi I. Schorsch
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The Power of a Name by Rabbi Andrew Davids
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Commentary for Sukkot
From My Jewish Learning: This portion covers all the “sacred occasions” that are mentioned in the Torah. It is only at the very end that Sukkot–and its symbols of the sukkah and four species–is mentioned. In the Reform tradition only the part that specifically focuses on Sukkot (Leviticus 23:33-44) is read on the holiday
22:26. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
22:27. When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall stay seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as an offering by fire to the LORD.
22:28. However, no animal from the herd or from the flock shall be slaughtered on the same day with its young.
22:29. When you sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to the LORD, sacrifice it so that it may be acceptable in your favor.
22:30. lt shall be eaten on the same day; you shall not leave any of it until morning: I am the LORD.
22:31. You shall faithfully observe My commandments: I am the LORD.
22:32. You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people -I the LORD who sanctify you,
22:33. I who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God, I the LORD.
23:1. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23:2. Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: These are My fixed times, the fixed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as sacred occasions.
23:3. On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a sabbath of complete rest, a sacred occasion. You shall do no work; it shall be a sabbath of the LORD throughout your settlements.
23:4. These are the set times of the LORD, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time:
23:5. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to the LORD,
23:6. and on the fifteenth day of that month the LORD’s Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days.
23:7. The first day shall be for you a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations.
23:8. Seven days you shall make offerings by fire to the LORD. The seventh day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations.
23:9. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23:10. Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: When you enter the land which I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest.
23:11. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for acceptance in your behalf; the priest shall wave it on the day after the sabbath.
23:12. On the day that you wave the sheaf, you shall offer as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb of the first year without blemish.
23:13. The meal offering with it shall be two-tenths of a measure of choice flour with oil mixed in, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD; and the libation with it shall be of wine, a quarter of a hin.
23:14. Until that very day, until you have brought the offering of your God, you shall eat no bread or parched grain or fresh ears; it is a law for all time throughout the ages in all your settlements.
23:15. And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of wave offering – the day after the sabbath-you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete:
23:16. you must count until the day after the seventh week-fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the LORD.
23:17. You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as a wave offering; each shall be made of two- tenths of a measure of choice flour, baked after leavening, as first fruits to the LORD.
23:18. With the bread you shall present, as burnt offerings to the LORD, seven yearling lambs without blemish, one bull of the herd, and two rams, with their meal offerings and libations, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.
23:19. You shall also offer one he-goat as a sin offering and two yearling lambs as a sacrifice of well-being.
23:20. The priest shall wave these-the two lambs together with the bread of first fruits as a wave offering before the LORD; they shall be holy to the LORD, for the priest.
23:21. On that same day you shall hold a celebration; it shall be a sacred occasion for you; you shall not work at your occupations. This is a law for all time in all your settlements, throughout the ages.
23:22. And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the LORD am your God.
23:23. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23:24. Speak to the Israelite people thus: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts.
23:25. You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall bring an offering by fire to the LORD.
23:26. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23:27. Mark, the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: you shall practice self-denial, and you shall bring an offering by fire to the LORD;
23:28. you shall do no work throughout that day. For it is a Day of Atonement, on which expiation is made on your behalf before the LORD your God.
23:29. lndeed, any person who does not practice self-denial throughout that day shall be cut off from his kin;
23:30. and whoever does any work throughout that day, I will cause that person to perish from among his people.
23:31. Do no work whatever; it is a law for all time, throughout the ages in all your settlements.
23:32. It shall be a sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall practice self-denial; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall observe this your sabbath.
23:33. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23:34. Say to the Israelite people: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month there shall be the Feast of Booths to the LORD, [to last] seven days.
23:35. The first day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations;
23:36. seven days you shall bring offerings by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall observe a sacred occasion and bring an offering by fire to the LoRD; it is a solemn gathering: you shall not work at your occupations.
23:37. Those are the set times of the LORD which you shall celebrate as sacred occasions, bringing offerings by fire to the LORD – burnt offerings, meal offerings, sacrifices, and libations, on each day what is proper to it-
23:38. apart from the sabbaths of the LORD, and apart from your gifts and from all your votive offerings and from all your freewill offerings that you give to the LORD.
23:39. Mark, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the yield of your land, you shall observe the festival of the LORD [to last] seven days: a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day.
23:40. On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
23:41. You shall observe it as a festival of the LORD for seven days in the year; you shall observe it in the seventh month as a law for all time, throughout the ages.
23:42. You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths,
23:43. in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the LORD your God.
23:44. So Moses declared to the Israelites the set times of the LORD.
This English translation is reprinted with permission from Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures published by the Jewish Publication Society.
Saturday, September 26, 2020
HA'AZINU, DEUTERONOMY 32:1-32:52
This is the 53rd weekly Torah portion ( פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) and the 10th in the Book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Deuteronomy 32:1–52. Here, Moses shares a song to the Israelites that emphasizes their covenant with God.
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From MyJewishLearning.com: When It’s Better to Do Verse by Rabbi Arnow
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From Aish.com:
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Don’t be Spoiled by Neshanel Safran (Commentary for Children & Their Parents with questions to ask)
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The Arc of the Moral Universe by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (Advanced Commentary)
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Torah Commentary for Rosh HaShanah 2020
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From ReformJudaism.org: Yom Sheini shel Rosh HaShanah for Tweens by Barbara Kadden
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From Reform Judaism Blog: How Midrash and Commentary Help Us Read Between the Lines