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 Korah – 5786
June 16, 2026
Rabbi Dorit Edut
A D’var Torah for Parashat Korah By Rabbi Dorit Edut (AJR 2006) “Jewish tradition cherishes free speech. ‘When a person refrains from speech, the ideas die, the soul stops, and the senses deteriorate,’ said Moses ibn Ezra, insisting on respect for honest differences of opinion. (Shirat Yisrael, 12c). If one reads the classic texts of the rabbinic era, the Mishnah and the Gemara, every page brims with the arguments both of the majority and of those who dissented from them, recognizing that each reflected aspects of God’s truth. ‘These and these are the words of God,’ the Talmud observes about these disputes (Eruvin 13b).” Yet while Jewish law encourages robust debate and respectful dialogue, it strictly prohibits malicious speech, such as gossip, public shaming, and slander. The strongest moral disapproval is expressed in Jewish teachings of slander in all its forms. The prohibition against going around as a talebearer is...
Parashat Shelah – 5786
June 9, 2026
Rabbi Rachel Posner
Remembering as an Act of Imagination A D’var Torah for Parashat Shelah By Rabbi Dr. Rachel Posner This week I met with my psychotherapy client, Melanie (not her real name), who is preparing to give birth for the first time. At her recent baby shower, friends and relatives could not resist sharing their own birth stories. Each woman hoped to help prepare Melanie for what lay ahead. Instead, their stories multiplied her anxiety. “I’m scared,” she told me, “because I’m not really in control. I don’t know what will happen, or what it will really feel like.” This is, of course, a completely natural response to a completely natural situation. Women give birth every day – but for Melanie, it is not every day. It is the most consequential day of her life so far. I asked her to remember that she has everything she needs to navigate what’s coming,...
Parashat Beha’alotekha – 5786
June 2, 2026
Rabbi Anat Katzir
A Reflection on Symbols, Service, and the Future of Am Yisrael A D’var Torah for Parashat Beha’alotekha By Rabbi Anat Katzir Parashat Beha’alotekha opens with the image of one of the most enduring symbols of the Jewish people: דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ “Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you raise up the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the menorah.” (Numbers 8:2) The menorah becomes more than a ritual object. It is a symbol of continuity, responsibility, and resilience of Am Yisrael. Throughout Jewish history, the menorah has represented the spiritual light of the Jewish people. Today, it is also the emblem of the modern State of Israel, reminding us that Jewish sovereignty must be rooted not only in power, but in moral purpose. The menorah symbolizes a Judaism that radiates outward. The light was...
Shavuot 5786
May 20, 2026
Cantor Sandy Horowitz
In this week’s D’var Torah, Cantor Sandy Horowitz reflects on Shavuot as an opportunity to re-enact the moment of revelation at Sinai, and looks at how the chanting of the Ten Commandments supports us in this endeavor.
Parashat Naso – 5786
May 19, 2026
Rabbi Scott “Shalom” Klein
A D’var Torah for Parashat Naso By Rabbi Scott “Shalom” Klein Parashat Naso opens with the command “Naso et rosh“—to “lift the head” of the sons of Gershon (Numbers 4:22). While the text begins with a census of those carrying the physical burdens of the Sanctuary, it culminates in the Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing, which provides the spiritual “lifting” for the entire nation. This transition from the labor of the Levites to the grace of the Kohanim offers a masterclass in leadership: the sustainability of any mission depends on a leader’s ability to not only manage the logistics of the “heavy lift” but to actively invoke a culture of protection, clarity, and peace. The Sfat Emet (Sfat Emet, Naso 1) explains that “lifting the head” is a prerequisite for service. He suggests that every individual possesses a unique spark that can only be activated when they recognize their specific...
