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.
Parshiyot Aharei Mot – Kedoshim – 5785
May 5, 2025
Rabbi Enid C. Lader ('10)
May the Force Be with You A D’var Torah for Parshiyot Aharei Mot – Kedoshim By Rabbi Enid C. Lader (AJR ’10) “The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them – You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” (Lev. 19:1-2) How would you define “holy”? What does it mean to “BE holy”? These are questions I asked Gavriel as we prepared for his becoming a bar mitzvah last year. Upon hearing my questions, he looked at me with a blank expression, but I could tell that he was thinking… and thinking… and hesitantly answered, “Religious?” Years ago, I had learned about and then taught other Jewish educators and teachers about Interactive Family Homework; this seemed like the perfect opportunity for Gavriel to include his grandparents in an important part of his bar mitzvah preparations. I asked him to ask them these questions,...
Parshiyot Tazria-Mezorah – 5785
April 29, 2025
Rabbi Greg Schindler (’09)
See Me A D’var Torah for Parshiyot Tazria-Mezorah By Rabbi Greg Schindler (AJR ’09) “See Me Feel Me Touch Me Heal Me” “See Me, Feel Me” (The Who) There was once a fellow who was so forgetful that, when he got up in the morning, he could not remember where he had put his clothes. One evening he had a great idea: He took a pencil and paper and wrote down exactly where he placed each item of clothing. He placed the note on his nightstand and fell asleep. The next morning, he saw the note and read off each item in turn. “Pants – on chair”. And there they were. “Shirt – on bed post.” There was his shirt. “Hat – on hook behind door.” And there it was. Suddenly, a worried expression crossed his face. “Yes,” he said, “Here are my pants and my shirt and my hat … but where am I?” He looked and...
The Many “Faces” of Silence
April 21, 2025
Rabbi Marge Wise
Parashat Shemini doesn’t lack for themes but the one which stood out for me as I began to prepare this D’var Torah is one that “speaks” to me every year when we read this parashah – namely, the theme of silence. Although Aaron’s silence is of course in an almost inconceivably tragic context all its own, I’ve been recalling and searching for other instances of silence in the Bible and in contemporary literature as well as in the area of mourning practices. An example in the latter category is Chaim Potok’s well-known book, The Chosen, which powerfully and poignantly explores the theme of silence between fathers and sons. Rabbi Harold Kushner also explores the concept of silence in his widely-read book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. In it, he deals with the role of silence in understanding suffering and in searching for meaning in life. In response to grief and misery, Kushner believed that silence can...
Pesah 5785
April 15, 2025
Rabbi Cantor Inna Serebro-Litvak ('16)
Normally I look forward to my trips to Israel with much anticipation and excitement. Even following the horrific attack of October 7, and with an ongoing war, I was still looking forward to being with my people.
Parashat Tzav -5785
April 7, 2025
Rabbi Susan Elkodsi (AJR '15)
A D’var Torah for Parashat Tzav By Rabbi Susan Elkodsi (AJR ’15) One of the beautiful and amazing things about Torah study is that every time I encounter a parashah, I see something I hadn’t noticed before. This year is no different. As I began reading Parashat Tzav, where Moses is told to command–Tzav–Aaron to keep a perpetual fire–an aish tamid–burning on the altar all night until morning, I noticed that this requirement is mentioned three times in the first six verses. I also noticed that not only does the Torah command us to eat matza brie, the “recipe” is included: עַֽל־ מַחֲבַ֗ת בַּשֶּׁ֛מֶן תֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה מֻרְבֶּ֣כֶת תְּבִיאֶ֑נָּה תֻּפִינֵי֙ מִנְחַ֣ת פִּתִּ֔ים תַּקְרִ֥יב רֵֽיחַ־נִיחֹ֖חַ לה’׃ “On a griddle, with oil, it is to be made, well-stirred are you to bring it, as baked crumbled-bits of grain you are to bring-it-near, a soothing savor for YHWH.” (Lev. 6:14, Fox Translation). Somewhere along the line I got the idea that verse 6:1,...
