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 Re’eh – 5786
August 3, 2026
Rabbi Rachel Posner
Monotheism and the Pitfalls of Certainty A D’var Torah for Parashat Re’eh By Rabbi Dr. Rachel Posner Earlier this year, two Israeli soldiers desecrated a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. The IDF responded quickly and decisively, punishing the soldiers with jail time. It was a painful example of how our need to assert and defend ourselves can slide into triumphalism — the wish to squelch and destroy the sacred practices of others. Monotheism can be co-opted into the dangerous notion that there is only one way to serve our singular Creator. But our central tenet — Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Ehad — does not mean that there is only one way to serve God, or that we alone have the right answers about religious practice. The Second Commandment cautions us against making our own certainty into an idol. Parashat Re’eh contains passages that are painful to read if...
Parashat Re’eh – 5785
August 19, 2025
Rabbi Rob Scheinberg
The Torah of Vacation A D’var Torah for Parashat Re’eh By Rabbi Rob Scheinberg, PhD Here’s a good question to ask in August: What does the Torah teach us about how to go on vacation? Our initial answer might be: not so much. You would have a hard time coming up with references to vacation in the Torah. Perhaps one could refer to Shabbat as a weekly vacation, but that uses the word “vacation” very differently from how we tend to use it. There is a lot of discussion of travel in the Torah: Abraham moves to the land of Israel; the people of Israel go down to Egypt, and then take a long and scenic route for forty years back to the land of Israel. But most of this travel is desperate wandering and displacement, rather than the vacation travel that many experience today. Surprisingly, though, every summer we read a...
Parashat Re’eh 5784
August 26, 2024
Rabbi Enid C. Lader ('10)
See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Eternal your God that I enjoin upon you this day; and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Eternal your God, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not experienced. (Deut. 11:26-28)
Parashat Re’eh 5783
August 10, 2023
Cantor Robin Anne Joseph (’96)
It’s been said that one person’s religion is another person’s superstition.
So when in this week’s parasha, Re’eh, the Israelites are told to build an altar on one of the Canaanite mountains upon their entrance into the Promised Land, but not before they are told to “utterly destroy” the altars that are already there, well—why am I not surprised?
Both the Israelites and the Canaanites have a long relationship with mountains. And often they’re the same mountains! But the Canaanites were there first. Sacred ancient Israelite shrines were often conveniently located on the same hilltops as former (and sometimes destroyed) ancient Canaanite shrines. So, which religion is legit and which is simply superstition?
Parashat Re’eh 5782
August 25, 2022
Click HERE for an audio recording of this D’var Torah A D’var Torah for Parashat Re’eh By Rabbi Enid Lader (’10) Our Torah portion this week is Re’eh – Deut. 11:26-16:17. In chapter 15, Moses continues to speak to the people about what to expect as they come into the new land. “There shall be no needy among you – since the Eternal your God will bless you in the land that the Eternal your God is giving you as an inheritance – if only you will heed the Eternal your God and keep all this Instruction that I enjoin upon you this day.” (15:4-5) Here’s the thing… If you play by the rules, there will be plenty for all. That makes sense. We know that there certainly are ways we can treat each other and care for (and about) each other that make for a just and compassionate society. But… Moses goes on to warn the people that,...
