Parashat Emor 5780

A D’var Torah for Parashat Emor
By Rabbi Bruce Alpert (AJR ’11)

A well-known midrash tells of Rabbi Yehoshua bemoaning the destruction of the Temple – “the place that atoned for Israel’s sins” – to his master, Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai. Rabbi Yohanan comforts his disciple with the observation that “we have another means of gaining atonement: through deeds of loving kindness, as it is written (Hosea 6:6) ‘I desire deeds of loving kindness, not sacrifice.’” (Avot d’Rabbi Natan 4:5)

Comforting as this midrash might be, it reduces the Temple to a single function: atoning for sin. Yet were this really its primary purpose, why are prayers for the Temple’s restoration so ubiquitous in our liturgy? As one who has ever uttered those prayers with discomfort, I think we need to look more deeply for the answer.

For many of us, our discomfort with the idea of the restoration of the Temple goes beyond our reticence about Read More >

By Bruce Alpert|2022-07-29T11:24:27-04:00May 8, 2020|

Parashat Aharei Mot Kedoshim

A D’var Torah for Parashat Aharei Mot Kedoshim
By Cantor Sandy Horowitz (’14)

Parashat Kedoshim consists of a series of commandments which God wants Moses to convey to the Israelite people. As is God’s wont, God has a lot to say as the verses in this parashah jump from one topic to another– keep My sabbaths; when you reap your harvest, leave the corners of your field for the poor and stranger; do not curse the deaf; do not cross-breed your cattle; and so on. These are a few of the laws which appear just in the first two aliyot of the Torah reading. Imagine how the Israelites might have listened to this series of commandments while trying to remember it all; it must have felt overwhelming, and perhaps a bit confusing. What harvest? What stranger?

Then we arrive at the beginning of the third aliyah: “When you come into the land and plant Read More >

By Cantor Sandy Horowitz|2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00May 1, 2020|

Parashat Tazria Metzora 5780

The Torah and Social Distancing
A D’var Torah for Parashat Tazria Metzora
By Rabbi Irwin Huberman (’10)

Perhaps there has never been a better time to embrace — with open arms — a section of the Torah, which most years we tend to turn away from.

The double portion of Tazria-Metzora speaks about those bodily conditions that often make us socially and physically uncomfortable: Rashes, skin diseases, bodily purification and leprosy, to name a few.

But isn’t it remarkable, how, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, this week’s Parashah comes to life probably in a way it never has in our lifetime?

During this unprecedented time, we can’t help but marvel at how our tradition appeared concerned with public health, long before the field of medicine became a sophisticated practice.

Indeed, our tradition recognizes the importance of testing, treatment, quarantine, evaluation and re-integration as part of a communal approach to healing.

During this time of quarantine and social distancing, the Read More >

By Rabbi Irwin Huberman|2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00April 24, 2020|

Parashat Shemini 5780

“Silent” Tribute to the Dead of Covid-19
A D’var Torah for Parashat Shemini
By Rabbi David Markus

Spiritually speaking, what should we say amidst 120,000 covid-19 deaths? Surely there must be something we should say, some right response – right?

If these questions land a gut punch, if they rouse gnawing emptiness, if they jumble emotions and singe the soul, then we might just barely begin to imagine Aaron in this week’s paresha (Shemini). How could the High Priest of Israel lose his sons Nadav and Avihu to divine fire, and then respond with silence – vayidom Aharon (Leviticus 10:3)?

This timely question, about one of Torah’s most difficult texts, touches our core both as individuals and as spiritual leaders – especially now.

But let’s be clear: our question’s covid-19 context isn’t so unusual in a global sense. According to the United Nations, over 165,000 people die every day from all causes (e.g. age, illnesses both acute and Read More >

By Rabbi David Evan Markus|2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00April 17, 2020|

Pesah 5780

A D’var Torah for Hol HaMoed Pesah
By Rabbi Heidi Hoover

When you were a child, did you ever resent the adults in your life enforcing bedtimes? Did you ever think, “When I’m a grown-up, I’ll be free to do whatever I want, and I’m going to stay up all night!” If you are an adult now, do you ever stay up all night just for fun, just because you can? I’m guessing you probably don’t, or at least not often. There are many ways in which we have more freedom as adults than we do as children, but that doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want. It does mean that it is up to us to learn to discipline ourselves, because as adults there are many ways in which there is no one else who will make sure we make healthy choices.

In this time when so Read More >

By Rabbi Heidi Hoover|2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00April 13, 2020|

Parashat Tzav 5780

An Offering of the heart
A D’var Torah for Parashat Tzav
By Rabbi Jill Hammer

Parashat Tzav deals with the offerings that the priests and the people made in the Tabernacle for the purposes of gratitude, atonement, and daily celebration. These offerings included the olah (an offering entirely burnt), the minhah or meal-offering, the zevah shelamim—a celebratory offering where part was given to God and people ate the rest—and the hatat and asham, two kinds of sin offerings. This week, my attention was particularly drawn to the olah, the offering that is completely burned. I want to explore three ways the olah might be relevant to us at this moment.

First, to me, the olah offering, an offering that is entirely given over, speaks to the powerful offerings that doctors, nurses, midwives, EMTs, and other medical workers are making right now as they serve those who are ill even at risk to themselves. This offering speaks, to me, of the Read More >

By Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD|2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00April 3, 2020|

Parashat Vayikra 5780

The Teachings of Leviticus for This Present Moment
A D’var Torah for Parashat Vayikra
By Rabbi Len Levin

This week we begin reading the book of Leviticus. The interpretation I offer here has benefited from the perspectives of the contemporary scholars Mary Douglas (Purity and Danger) and Jacob Milgrom (The Anchor Bible: Leviticus), both of whom have enriched my understanding of the author’s complex outlook.

The underlying unity of the book’s diverse themes can be seen in the theme of purification—purification through ritual (especially sacrifices—chapters 1–10 and dietary laws—chapter 11), purification through medical diagnosis and quarantine (the laws of leprosy and family purity—chapters 12–15), and purification through ethical living and social justice (the teaching of “love your neighbor” (Lev. 19:18) and the Sabbatical / Jubilee years—chapter 25). In the book’s coda (chapter 26), the author promises peace and prosperity if these teachings are taken to heart in the life of Read More >

By Rabbi Len Levin|2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00March 26, 2020|

Parashat Vayak’hel / P’kudei 5780

A D’var Torah for Parashat Vayak’hel P’kudei
By Rabbi Bruce Alpert (’11)What does it mean to have a “willing heart?” The phrase is used three times in the opening verses of this week’s parashah, Vayak’hel/P’kudei (Exodus 35:5, 22, and 29). It likewise appears in Parashat Terumah, Exodus 25:2. In each instance the circumstances are the same; it describes the voluntary donations of precious materials (gold, silver, jewels, rare fabrics) used for the construction of the Mishkan – God’s dwelling place among the Israelite tribes. These donations are all made by those whose heart moves them to do so, and they are made in such profusion that Moses ultimately must command the Israelites to stop (Exodus 36:6).

But we only realize how evocative is the phrase “willing heart” when we consider the source of these gifts. These materials were acquired by the Israelites as they left Egypt, stripping it of its precious objects as Read More >

By Bruce Alpert|2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00March 20, 2020|

Parashat Ki Tisa 5780

A D’var Torah for Parashat Ki Tisa
By Cantor Sandy Horowitz (’14)

In Parashat Ki Tisa Aaron has been left in charge of the Israelites while Moses is meeting with God atop Mount Sinai. As the brother of Moses, Aaron is a likely choice to be given the responsibility of interim-leader. Given what happens however, one might wonder if he was the right person for the job.

Time passes, Moses doesn’t return, God is silent, the Israelites become anxious. In Exodus 32:1 we read, “The people gathered against Aaron and said to him, come, make us a god who shall go before us, for that man Moses… we do not know what has happened to him.” Aaron immediately complies. He doesn’t try to convince the people that Moses will be back soon, or encourage them to keep faith with God. Rather, he asks for the gold from the jewelry of their wives and daughters, and uses it Read More >

By Cantor Sandy Horowitz|2022-07-29T11:24:29-04:00March 12, 2020|

Parashat Tetzaveh 5780

Purim: When Israel truly accepted Torah
A D’var Torah for Parashat Tetzaveh
By Rabbi Irwin Huberman (’10)

One of the visual highlights of the regular Shabbat service occurs after we complete our weekly Torah reading.

Within the Asheknazi (European) tradition, the magbiah (the lifter) opens the Torah at least three columns wide, and raises it towards the heavens. The congregation responds by chanting, “And this is the Torah that Moses set before the people of Israel — upon the command of God, through Moses’ hand” (Deut. 4:44)

It is a beautiful tradition which acknowledges the Jewish people receiving Torah at Mount Sinai, more than three thousand years ago.

But as our Talmudic tradition teaches, receipt of Torah is one thing, accepting it is another.

The Talmud implies, that in the desert, barely three months after their liberation, the Israelites really had no choice. They were totally dependent on God.

Supplies of food and water were limited. They were at Read More >

By Rabbi Irwin Huberman|2022-07-29T11:24:29-04:00March 6, 2020|

All shall unite to do God's will with an open heart.

All shall unite to do God's will with an open heart.

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