d'Var Torah

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Have you ever pretended that you were one of the Israelites during the 40-year Exodus? Not a pleasant thought, perhaps. After all, if you were an adult at the beginning of the journey, it meant that … more

d'Var Torah | 8/7/20

Life passes by speedily: Use this time wisely

During the COVID-19 crisis, many people have remarked on the way that time seems to be moving both more slowly and more quickly than usual. During this “stay at home” time, we can … more

d'Var Torah | 7/3/20

Grieving our losses – and envisioning the next chapter of Jewish life

It now seems like years ago that we were grieving not being in-person for our Passover seders, and dreaming up creative, safer alternatives to large gatherings of family and friends. Now, many of us … more

d'Var Torah | 6/5/20

Have faith that better times are ahead

Jewish holidays are rooted in historical events and in the life cycles of plants indigenous to the land of Israel. We are now in the time of the Omer. On the day after the full moon of Pesach, our … more

d'Var Torah | 4/30/20

Doing our part to ensure that freedom continues

The first Pesach seder is on April 8 this year. It is traditionally spent with family and friends. Some congregations celebrate the first or second seder as a community. This year, the COVID-19 … more

d'Var Torah | 4/5/20

The hidden meaning of Purim

On Monday night, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, we will celebrate Purim – a holiday we often think of as a day for kids, when we dress in costume, go to Purim carnivals, and eat more … more

d'Var Torah | 3/8/20

Redeeming the bones of Joseph

Like many people of my generation (I’m 68), I’m thinking about downsizing and simplifying. Each week I look at the bookshelf in my study to identify a book I might no longer need, to … more

d'Var Torah | 2/6/20

Blessings are central to our traditions

Vayekhi, which means “and he [Jacob] lived,” is the last Torah portion in the book of Genesis and concludes the saga of the patriarchs and matriarchs. It ends the part of the Torah in … more

d'Var Torah | 1/8/20

In defense of the Maccabees

“Let everyone who has zeal for the Law and who stands by the covenant follow me!” – 1 Maccabees 2:27 Mattathias, the high priest and patriarch of the Hasmonean … more

d'Var Torah | 12/9/19

Noah’s story is a tale of hope

This week, we read the story of Noah and the flood. You might be familiar with it as a cute kid’s story about finding two of each animal and bringing them into a giant boat. Or perhaps you … more

d'Var Torah | 10/31/19