The AJR Center for Judaism and Science has an annual competition for the best student D’var Torah infused with science. Click here to view the entries that have won our לדעת חכמה (Lada’at Hokhmah) Award.
Parashat Mishpatim – 5785
February 18, 2025
Rabbi Greg Schindler (’09)
Promises, Promises A D’var Torah for Parashat Mishpatim By Rabbi Greg Schindler (AJR ’09) While last week’s Torah portion is so famous that they made a movie about it (something with Charlton Heston), this week’s parsha – Mishpatim or “Laws” – has a very different flavor. This week, we get – count ‘em – 53 different laws on a vast array of topics. They include the treatment of servants, betrothal of handmaidens, insults, injuries, theft, loans, false witnesses, bribery, return of lost animals, land usage, festivals and many more. Then, after 80-something verses of laws, we get the following line (Exod 23:18-20 ): https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.23.18-20?lang=bi&aliyot=0– “I am going to send an angel before you to protect you on the way, and to bring you to the place that I have designated.” Wait…what?! You’re sending an angel before us? Where did that come from? It’s like reading the U.S. Federal Tax Code and coming across a line from Harry Potter. Now that it...
Parashat Mishpatim 5784
February 6, 2024
Cantor Robin Anne Joseph (’96)
“Na’aseh v’nishma (We will do and we will heed)”~ Shemot 24:7
Just Do It ~ The Nike slogan
In my other life, I am a theater producer.
Parashat Mishpatim 5783
February 13, 2023
Click HERE for an audio recording of this D’var Torah Yearning for Divine Intimacy, and the Call of Ordinary Life A D’var Torah for Parashat Mishpatim By Dr. Yakir Englander The weekly Torah portion – Parashat Mishpatim – opens with a long list of laws governing daily life. On the face of it, there is no hint of the previous portion’s numinous encounter between the People of Israel and the Divine at Mount Sinai. The dark cloud and the thunderous voices are gone, and instead we find Israel saddled with a tedious inventory of colorless rules. And yet, as this portion unfolds, we learn of more intimate divine/human encounters – described now with a kind of holy pathos. The people respond, to each of the divine injunctions, na’aseh ve-nishma’ – “We will do, and we will hear!” Moses and Aaron, with the latter’s two sons and also seventy elders representing the people, have an intimate dialogue with the Divine in the Tent...
Parashat Mishpatim 5782
January 27, 2022
Click HERE for an audio recording of this D’var Torah A D’var Torah For Parashat Mishpatim By Rabbi Jeffrey Segelman Parashat Mishpatim includes the mitzvot pertaining to one who is responsible for guarding something owned by another. Similarly, it speaks of the responsibility of one who borrows something from another (Exodus 22:9-14). Without going into detail, the Torah points to the difference in obligation depending upon whether the “shomeir,” the one who is watching the item, has been paid for his efforts or not. It also depends on the degree of reasonable concern and/or negligence that the person demonstrated. Obviously, these laws have great application in the lives of people who wish to live together in peace. There may also be great spiritual significance to this idea. But in order to discuss it, let us first digress. A few weeks ago, when we read the conclusion of Shirat HaYam, we listened as Moses and the people declared...
Parashat Mishpatim 5781
February 12, 2021
Click HERE for an audio recording of this D’var Torah A D’var Torah for Parashat Mishpatim By Rabbi Enid Lader (’10) In planning for this D’var Torah, I was set to focus on “Na’aseh v’nishmah” – “we will do and we will listen/understand.” (Ex. 24:7) Our Torah portion is filled with so many mitzvot – 53 to be exact; 23 positive imperatives, and 30 prohibitions. Moses shares this list with the Israelites and they say, “Na’aseh v’nishmah.” What does that mean? We’ll do these things first, and ask questions later? Even if we do not understand, we will do – and in the process of doing, understanding will come? Then, a little over two weeks ago, I received the following text from one of the high school teachers in my congregation’s religious school: Good evening, Rabbi! I was just walking three of our high school students through Mishpatim when we got to...
