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187 results total, viewing 31 - 40

The Torah portion Bereshit is jam-packed, to say the least. It includes the creation of the world in six days, the creation of man and woman, the commandment to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge … more

d'Var Torah | 10/9/21

A powerful proposition

Many years ago, long before I became a rabbi, I was invited to High Holy Days services at Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC) in Los Angeles. As I walked into the sanctuary on Erev Rosh Hashanah, I remember … more

d'Var Torah | 9/6/21

‘Justice, justice thou shall pursue’

Near the beginning of next week’s Torah portion, Shoftim (Hebrew for Judges, Deut. 16:17-21:9), we find a verse that begins: “Justice, justice (Tzedek, tzedek) thou shall pursue” … more

d'Var Torah | 8/5/21

Our legacy may lie in our actions, not our names

Our Torah portion this week is named after Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, who is rewarded with the continued priesthood in his family for zealously upholding the high morals of the Torah. Soon … more

d'Var Torah | 7/1/21

Dare to pursue your dreams

If you’ve seen an advertisement for travel to Israel, or if you have checked out the website of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, you may have seen a curious logo. Here it is: This is the … more

d'Var Torah | 6/3/21

Look to the Torah to guide us out of the wilderness

We end the Book of Vayikra with a double reading that is made up of the last three chapters of the Third Book of Torah. What is interesting is how relevant it is today. In a few weeks, we will … more

d'Var Torah | 5/9/21

The Torah guides us toward helping the homeless

A home and a garden. Sounds biblical. After all, one of the first chapters in the Torah is the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But where was their home? Only the garden is mentioned. … more

d'Var Torah | 4/9/21

Ecclesiastes fits the spirit of our time

I was speaking with a friend the other day, and I asked him, rhetorically, “Will this winter ever end?” I’m not bothered by the cold (after all, before I moved to Rhode … more

d'Var Torah | 3/4/21

The many sounds of silence

Parashah Yitro contains some of the most sublime passages in the Torah. The best-known section, of course, is the Aseret Hadibrot, the 10 utterances/pronouncements, better known as the Ten … more

d'Var Torah | 2/5/21

Consider a blessing for the COVID-19 vaccine

“Be sure to follow the behaviors which the wise doctors prescribe, for walking in the light of their words is also our religious duty, thus upholding life in this physical world to be good and do good (l’tov u’lemeitiv).” (Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, Ohr Yisrael, Letter 22). more

d'Var Torah | 1/7/21