Life, Death and Running Water
In parshat Hukkat, both Miriam and Aaron die, but under very different circumstances. From a p’shat, or “literal” reading of the text, Miriam simply dies and is buried, while Aaron is not only given notice that he will pass away, but is accompanied by his brother Moses and son Elazar, who will assume the position of high priest.
Miriam the Marriage Counselor
In this week’s Torah reading, Behaalot’kha, Moses’ siblings, Miriam and Aaron, are scolded by God, va tidabber Miriam v’Aharon b’Moseh al odot ha isha ha-cushite asher lakach, ki isha Cushite lakach– “And then Miriam and Aaron spoke with Moses regarding his Cushite...
Climb Ev’ry Mountain
As we come to the end of the book of Vayikra, “Leviticus,” God is speaking to Moses b’har Sinai, “on Mount Sinai,” and giving him instructions regarding the shmitah, or Sabbatical year. “When you go into the land that I am giving you, the land shall keep a Shabbat for...
The Mother and Child Union
“When a woman gives birth to a boy, she shall be unclean for seven days, and remain in a state of blood-purification for 33 days.” (Lev. 12:2-4) Double that if she has a girl. What’s going on here? The Torah isn’t a medical handbook, and what’s the difference between...
Compassion – Across the Divide
Passover is a commemoration of the Israelites’ journey from slavery in Egypt to redemption and freedom in the wilderness of Sinai. When we read and tell the story during the Maggid portion of our seders, we begin with disgrace, avadim hayinu l’faro b’mitzrayim, “We...
Noah, Abraham, Passover and the Call for Justice
Making a commitment to social justice means, among other things, being willing to challenge authority when one sees oppression, discrimination and violations of civil, cultural and religious rights in one’s community. It means being willing to stand up for ourselves...
One Bad Apple?
In Chapter 3 of Megillat (the scroll of) Esther – which we read on Purim – we're introduced to our villain, Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Aggagite, who becomes promoted to be King Achashverosh's second-in-command. Haman expected that everyone would bow down to him,...
Lessons from the Land of Egypt
A story is told that when a gentile came to the great Hillel and said, “Teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot,” Hillel replied, “That which is hateful to you, do not do unto others. All the rest is commentary. Now go and learn!” The Torah also commands...
I Have A Dream
Excerpt from the "I Have A Dream" speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King set to Haftorah trope, chanted by Rabbi Susan Elkodsi. I HAVE A DREAM I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for...
What about the kids?
When we think about our personal legacies, and the intangibles we leave behind along with money, jewelry and other goods, two of the things that are often at the top of a list of “spiritual” or “ethical” bequests are a desire that one’s children get along once the...
Lighting the Way
Parashat Mikketz, which is almost always read on Shabbat during Hanukkah, begins with Pharaoh’s dream of 7 fat cows being swallowed up by seven lean cows, and the seven hearty sheaves of wheat replaced by the frail, windblown ones. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but...
Wrestling With The Angels, Wrestling With Ourselves
This week’s Torah reading is Vayishlach, and contains the famous story of Jacob wrestling with the angel before his meeting with his brother Esau after 20 years. “And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him,...
Remembering Ruth Gruber
“Ruth Gruber has moved across most of the twentieth century as a compassionate writer, eloquent speaker, humanitarian and rescuer of Jews.” Barbara Seaman, Jewish Women’s Archive We learn in midrash Bereishit Rabbah that, “Some people have the dignity of old age...
The Joy of Yom Kippur
This year, for some reason, I haven’t been dreading Yom Kippur. No, I'm not thrilled about fasting, and the hours spent in synagogue (yes, sometimes even the rabbi!) but there's more to it. I was no more organized to lead services this year than in the past, but...
Comfort and Tradition
There’s a saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome. On the other hand, there’s comfort in doing the same thing over and over and getting the same result. As we approach Rosh Hashanah, I’d like to suggest that we...
Latest Sermons
Vayetze: 50 Years Later
Marc Chagall, Jacob's Dream, 1966. Nice, France This Shabbat marks 50 years since I read the haftarah for Vayetze at my Friday night bat mitzvah at B’nai Torah in Trumbull, CT. Where has the time gone? Who could have imagined that 50 years later I’d be a rabbi, have...
Toldot: Because Labels Are For Cans
sale-shelf-old-cans-food-162927.jpeg (6000×4000) (pexels.com) When I was growing up, perhaps in middle or high school, I remember having conversations with my friends about how we would never bring children into a world that was so messed up; we were dealing with race...
Vayera: Putting God On Hold
flickr.com/photos/megathoncharlie/6287188004/ This week’s Torah reading, Vayera, opens with: Vayera ay-lav Ado-nai bay-lonay Mamray v’hu yoshev petakh ha-ohel b’khom hayom, “And God appeared to him (Abraham) by the groves of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of...
Latest Midrash HaZak
Yitro: Ink Blots On The Paper Of Life
Yitro: Ink Blots On The Paper Of Life Rabbi Tamar Crystal Elisha Ben Abuya taught: “When a person studies as a child to what may he be compared? To ink written on fresh paper. When a person studies when he is old to what may he be compared? To ink written on blotted...
Beshallach: A Journey Through The Sea And Life
The Waters Are Divided (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot) Beshallach: A Journey Through The Sea And Life Rabbi Judith B. Edelstein, D.Min., BCC Beshallach (“When he let go”) refers to Pharaoh’s sending out the enslaved Israelites from Egypt. This parashah...
Shemot: And God Said, “Hineni”
Photo credit: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/wNYxw Shemot: And God Said, "Hineni" By Cantor Lois Kittner I believe in miracles, and I believe in God, but the accepted translations and interpretations of common scenes in the Torah had made it uncomfortable, if not...
Latest Personal Blogs
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