Sefer Shemot Archives | Academy for Jewish Religion

24 03, 2025

Parashat Pekudei – 5785

By Marisa Amith|2025-03-24T11:44:17-04:00March 24, 2025|

Both Sides Now

A D’var Torah for Parashat Pekudei

By Cantor Robin Anne Joseph

Let’s look at clouds. From all sides now. Shall we?

Clouds are—what? The presence of God? A cover for God? A signal from God? In Parashat Pekudei, they are D) All of the above. And then some.

One cloud in particular makes a brief, but spectacular, cameo appearance as the curtain comes down on the second “act” (Book) of the Five Books of Moses. Not just any cloud, not just a cloud, but The Cloud (הֶעָנָ֖ן). As much a supporting actor in the Torah as anyone (or anything) else, I’m continually surprised not to see the word “cloud” capitalized in the English translation whenever the article “the” precedes it.

This is not the first time that The Cloud has made an appearance in the Torah.

As early as in the Book of Genesis, when God makes a covenant, a Brit, with Noah to never again destroy the earth by flood, God sets God’s “bow in the cloud.” Read More >

18 03, 2025

Parashat Vayakhel – 5785

By Linda Ripps|2025-03-18T14:13:35-04:00March 18, 2025|

There are individuals for whom learned information remains merely theoretical, and there are others who internalize their learning until it becomes part of their very being. We know the second ones in biblical language as "wise-hearted" (חכמי לב). A "wise-hearted" individual understands and internalizes their learning until it permeates their thoughts and actions.

10 03, 2025

Parashat Ki Tissa – 5785

By Marisa Amith|2025-03-12T09:52:45-04:00March 10, 2025|

Yishar Koah!

A D’var Torah for Parashat Ki Tissa

By Rabbi Rob Scheinberg

Among the various words and phrases you’re likely to hear in a synagogue is the phrase “Yishar koah,” sometimes pronounced as “Yashar koah” or “Yeshar koah” or even abbreviated to “Sh’koyah!” Since Talmudic times, this phrase has been a way to express praise for an achievement, even an extremely minor achievement. “Yishar” comes from the root “y.sh.r.”, meaning “upright” or “aligned,” and “koah” means “strength” or “force.” The phrase itself can be translated in a few different ways; it could be a prayer or good wish for the future, “may your strength be upright,” or it could be a complimentary statement of fact, “your strength is upright” or “your force is aligned.”

Functionally, “Yishar koah” means “you did a good job,” especially in performing a synagogue ritual-related task — whether or not it is one of the synagogue tasks that requires any skill Read More >

3 03, 2025

Parashat Tetzaveh – 5785

By Marisa Amith|2025-03-03T10:50:00-05:00March 3, 2025|

Did we miss a spot?

As Moses receives instructions for the making of items for the Mishkan, the text moves from describing the wardrobe of the priests to the ritual of installing the priests in their sacred roles. It is a ritual of purification that begins with sacrificial animals and bread, clothing the priests in their sacred vestments, and then their purification, including:

“…Slaughter the ram and take some of its blood and put it on the ridge of Aaron’s right ear and on the ridges of his sons’ right ears, and on the thumbs of their right hand, and on the big toes of their right feet.” (Ex. 29:20)

Ear… Thumb… Big toe?

It is probably due to my current grandparenting responsibilities that, as I read this verse, I couldn’t help but hear, “Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb” – a book by Al Perkins, introducing toddlers and pre-school Read More >

25 02, 2025

Parashat Terumah – 5785

By Marisa Amith|2025-02-25T09:59:12-05:00February 25, 2025|

A D’var Torah for Parashat Terumah

When someone talks about a sanctuary, what comes to mind? If one uses that term for a house of worship, then images of clergy might enter one’s mind, with an Aron Kodesh, an ark containing the Torah scrolls, and the bimah with stands for the clergy to lead a prayer service. Maybe some stained glass. Definitely a window or two.

The sanctuary can be large and formal –think of Temple Emmanuel in New York City. Or it can be small, informal and intimate such as a neighborhood shtiebel, and anywhere in between. They are places for Jewish prayer, where individuals try to get closer to God, and to each other, in prayer and song.

The term sanctuary first came into our lexicon with this week’s Torah portion, Terumah. But that sanctuary was not of an arbitrary size with rooms and fixtures which could vary. No, the first sanctuary, the Mishkan, a portable sanctuary for offerings as the Children of Israel went from Read More >

18 02, 2025

Parashat Mishpatim – 5785

By Marisa Amith|2025-02-20T14:34:44-05:00February 18, 2025|

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 has our attention, the Read More >

10 02, 2025

Parashat Yitro – 5785

By Marisa Amith|2025-02-10T13:05:49-05:00February 10, 2025|

In this week's Torah portion, Rabbi Susan Elkodsi sees Yitro's advice to Moses as a reminder that strong and effective leaders also need to care for their own wellbeing.

4 02, 2025

By Marisa Amith|2025-02-04T10:58:38-05:00February 4, 2025|

In this week’s D’var Torah, Cantor Robin Anne Joseph wonders (with apologies for the gender specificity) if “to know, know, know Him is to love, love, love Him.”

30 01, 2025

Parashat Bo – 5785

By Marisa Amith|2025-01-30T09:33:22-05:00January 30, 2025|

As I watched live the final episode of “Kochav haba LeEurovision” and witnessed the elegant sensitivity with which they crafted this joyous occasion with the reiterated references to the last almost sixteen months that the hostages have been in captivity, I couldn’t avoid thinking of Naomi Shemer’s song “BeDamaikh Hayi”

17 01, 2025

Parashat Shemot 5785

By Linda Ripps|2025-01-17T10:08:35-05:00January 17, 2025|

Parashat Shemot, is the first parashah in the book of Exodus, whose name is also Shemot, which literally means names. In this parashah we read of the birth of Moses. Not taking anything away from Moses – or from his father, whom we’ll get to in a moment – I would like us to keep in mind that Moses’ birth, and his very survival, were made possible by a few brave and fearless women!!

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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