The Fire on the Altar; The Fire Inside Us
By Clifford S. Fishman
This week’s Torah portion is Tzav: Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36
Fire is a powerful force — and a powerful symbol.
According to a...
Does God Get Inside Your Head?
By Bill Dauster
This week’s Torah portion is Yitro: Exodus 18:1–20:23
Does God follow our thoughts?
In this week’s Torah reading, among the Ten Commandments, God commands...
Rewriting Noah: The Al-Aqsa Flood
By Rabbi Lance J. Sussman
Parshat Noah
My original intention was to write a very different column about this week’s Torah portion, Noah. But the massive,...
The Blast of the Shofar
Rabbi Andrew Busch
Rosh Hashanah
What approach might best call a group of humans to attention? It is an ancient and ongoing question. Throughout history, all...
Preparing for the High Holy Days
By Rabbi Jennifer Weiner
This week’s Torah portion is Nitzavim-Vayelech, Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30.
In ancient times, gatherings were matters of both ritual and commerce. Torah is read...
Deuteronomy’s Ode to Joy
Rabbi Laurie E. Green
This week’s Torah portion is Ki Tavo: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8.
Judaism is about joy. I don’t know about you, but that’s something I...
How to be the Enemy of Indifference
By Rabbi Michael Werbow
This week’s Torah portion is Ki Tetze, Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19.
At a certain point in a child’s development, they latch onto the concept...
The Necessity of Sanctuary
Rabbi Lizz Goldstein
This week’s Torah portion is Shoftim, Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9.
This week’s Torah portion includes the commandments for sanctuary cities: “Thus blood of the innocent...
Why Help Those in Need?
Bill Dauster
This week’s Torah portion is Re’eh, Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17.
What duty do we owe the poor?
This week’s Torah reading discusses tithes, the Sabbatical year, and...
The Torah of Son House
Rabbi Neil A. Tow
This week’s Torah portion is Ekev, Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25.
“I woke up this morning, feeling ‘round for my shoes / Know...