A Work in Progress: God's Ongoing Creation and Our Role in It A D’var Torah for Parashat Bereisheet By Rabbi Scott “Shalom” Klein (AJR '24) The opening verses of Parashat Bereisheet describe a familiar scene: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." We are taught that creation unfolds over seven days, each marked by a specific act of divine utterance and artistry. From the light to the firmament, from the trees to the stars, we witness a world being meticulously brought into being. And then, on the seventh day, God rests. The story seems complete. Yet, a closer look reveals that the creation narrative is not simply a historical account of a completed event. The text states: “Vayekhal Elohim bayom ha-shevi’i melakhto asher asah”—"God completed (or ceased Read More >

“From the hands of his enemies and from the hands of Saul” A D’var Torah for Parashat Ha’azinu By Rabbi Rob Scheinberg The traditional cycle of Haftarot, prophetic readings for each Shabbat and holiday of the year, is one of the more confusing parts of synagogue ritual, between the numerous differences in practice between Ashkenazic and Sefardic communities, [1] the even greater number of divergences in practice when one considers the Italian and Mizrahi rites, and the quirks of the holiday cycle that are hard for anyone to keep track of without a detailed perpetual calendar (or a website like hebcal.com). This is one of the relatively few years when traditional Jewish communities read the Haftarah for the Torah portion of Ha’azinu, a poem from the end of the 2nd Book Read More >

A D'var Torah for Parashat Vayeilekh by Rabbi Marge Wise (AJR ’21) Although the shortest parashah in the Torah with 30 verses, parashat Vayeilekh teaches us so much about life, the trajectory of life's journey, ways to view life's accomplishments, the high points and the disappointments. Trying to find a theme for my D'var Torah has led me to be introspective. Being at home for a few days with Covid - which I had avoided until now and had hoped to continue avoiding! - helped fuel that introspection! I learned a lot in the process of doing research for this D'var Torah. For one, I learned a new word: generativity. But before I get there, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z"l, describes Moses in a way which makes him seem very - well, "human". He describes Moses as Read More >

A D’var Torah for Parashat Nitzavim By Rabbi Susan Elkodsi (AJR '15) Parashat Nitzavim is usually read a week or two before Rosh Hashanah, and begins with Moses reminding us that following Torah, God’s commandments, isn’t so difficult, or at least it shouldn’t be. The parashah begins with Moses acknowledging the entire community standing before him; the elders, the tribal leaders, the children, men and women, resident aliens, everyone from the woodchopper to the water drawers. (Dev. 29:9-10) I’ve always wondered why the professions of wood chopping and water drawing would not only be singled out, but presented in a way that suggests that they’re two ends of spectrum, or that perhaps these are unskilled laborers who might not be as learned as the elders Read More >