Shabbat Forshpeis
A Taste of Torah in Honor of Shabbat
Previous Divrei Torah
PARSHAT NITZAVIM/VA-YELEKH
HIDDENNESS IS ONLY TEMPORARY
SEPTEMBER 19-20, 2003 / 22 ELUL 5763
In one of this week's portions,
God declares that
PARSHAT KI TAVO
THE JOY OF DIVINE PROTECTION
SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2003 / 15 ELUL 5763
In this week's portion Moshe
(Moses) tells the Jewish people,
PARSHAT KI TETZE
HOW THE REBELLIOUS CHILD TEACHES US
ABOUT CHILD REARING
SEPTEMBER 5-6, 2003 / 8 ELUL 5763
This week's portion speaks
of the bein sorer u'moreh,
PARSHAT SHOFTIM
THE NATURE OF THE HOLINESS OF JERUSALEM
AUGUST 29-30, 2003 / 1 ELUL 5763
In this week's portion (among other places in the Tanakh)
Yerushalayim, (Jerusalem),
PARSHAT RE-EH
THE TRUTH IS NOT FOUND IN THE MIRACLE
AUGUST 22-23 2003 / 24 AV 5763
While a prophet may not
change Torah law,
PARSHAT EKEV
THE EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY OF BIRKAT HAMAZON
AUGUST 15-16, 2003 / 17 AV 5763
This week's portion includes
the verse upon
PARSHAT VA-ETCHANAN
EVEN THE SMALLEST CHANGE CAN MAKE
A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE OR
THE CRITICAL LESSONS OF TWO SIMPLE LETTERS
AUGUST 8-9, 2003 / 10 AV 5763
Perhaps the most famous sentence
in the Torah is found
PARSHAT DEVARIM
THE ETERNAL NATURE OF GOD AND OF GOD'S TORAH
AUGUST 1-2, 2003/ 3 AV 5763
Who wrote the Book of
Deuteronomy (Sefer Devarim)?
PARSHAT MATOT-MASEI
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REFLECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
JULY 25-26, 2003 / 26 TAMUZ 5763
Why does the Torah spend an entire
chapter outlining
PARSHAT PINHAS
UNIVERSALISM AND NATIONALISM AS REFLECTED
IN THE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE
JULY 18-19, 2003 / 19 TAMMUZ 5763
This week's portion lists the festivals and the
sacrifices offered
PARSHAT HUKAT/BALAK
MOSHE'S CUMULATIVE MISTAKE
JULY 11-12, 2003 / 12 TAMMUZ 5763
In this week's portion God tells Moshe (Moses)
that he would
PARSHAT KORACH
THE SIN OF INDIFFERENCE AND NEUTRALITY
JULY 4-5, 2003 / 5 TAMMUZ 5763
The Torah in this week's portion identifies with
absolute clarity
PARSHAT SHELAKH
HOW WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES CAN MAKE
ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE
JUNE 27-28, 2003 / 28 SIVAN 5763
In this week's portion,
Moshe (Moses) sends
PARSHAT BEHA'ALOTEKHA
DIFFERNING ANGLES ON THE NATURE OF PRAYER
JUNE 20-21, 5763 / 21 SIVAN 5763
The importance of prayer is
second nature to all of us.
PARSHAT NASO
THE PRIESTLY BLESSING: EVEN THE
GREATEST GIFTS HAVE THEIR PITFALLS
JUNE 13-14, 5763 / 14 SIVAN 5763
Perhaps the most famous blessing
in all of our tradition is found in
SHAVUOT
ACTIONS INSPIRE LOVE
JUNE 6-7, 2003/ 7 SIVAN 5763
It was during the time of Shavuot that the Jews
at Sinai declared to God, naaseh ve-nishma,
we will do and we will listen
PARSHAT BAMIDBAR
THE CONSTANT REMINDER OF THE
ULTIMATE MOMENT OF CONNECTING
MAY 30-31, 2003 / 29 IYAR 5763
Is there any significance to the Jewish people camping
around the Tabernacle
PARSHAT BEHUKOTAI
THE ULTIMATE BLESSING IN LIFE
MAY 23-24, 2003/ 22 IYAR 5763
The blessings in the portion of Behukotai
reach toward
PARSHAT BEHAR
THE DREAM OF LIVING BEYOND WALLS:
REFLECTIONS ON YOM YERUSHALAYIM
MAY 16-17, 2003/ 15 IYAR 5763
The Torah, in this weeks reading,
proclaims that a house
PARSHAT EMOR
UNRAVELING PARADIGMS OF HOLINESS
THROUGH THE COUNTING OF THE OMER
MAY 9-10, 2003 / 8 IYAR 5763
Why do we count the days from
Passover to Shavuot? (Leviticus 23:15)
PARASHAT KEDOSHIM
THE INNER SPARK THAT IS WAITING
TO BE TAPPED
MAY 2-3, 2003 / 1 IYAR 5763
This weeks reading includes
a sentence, which deals with the
PARSHAT AHAREI MOT
A HAIRBREADTH CAN BE THE WHOLE DIFFERENCE
24 NISSAN 5763/APRIL 25-26, 2003
In this weeks portion, the Torah tells us
that
Aharon (Aaron) the High Priest,
PESACH 5763
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF RITUAL
IN THE QUEST FOR MEMORY
APRIL 18-19, 2003 / 17 NISAN 5763
The only events
in Jewish history that are powerfully remembered
remembered
PARSHAT METZORA
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE HAGGADAH QUESTIONS
APRIL 11-12, 2003 / 10 NISAN 5763
What is the significance
of so many questions in
the Haggadah
PARSHAT TAZRIA
FAMILY PURITY AS THE
COUNTERPOINT TO CIRCUMCISION
3 NISSAN 5763 / APRIL 4-5, 2003
This weeks portion begins with
discussing a mothers ritual status
after childbirth.
PARSHAT SHEMINI
THE WONDERFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE
NATURE OF WINE
MARCH 28-29, 2003 / 25 ADAR II 5763
Among the directions given
in this weeks portion is a command to Aaron
the High Priest
PARSHAT ZAV
NO ONE IS ABOVE TAKING OUT THE GARBAGE
MARCH 21-22, 2003 /18 ADAR II 5763
Our parsha informs us
that the priests first task of the day was to remove the ashes from
the offering sacrificed
PARSHAT VA-YIKRA
THE LIFE LESSONS OF THE SMALL ALEPH
MARCH 14-15, 2003 / 11 ADAR II 5763
When beginning this weeks parsha,
we realize that the very first word of the Book of Leviticus has a letter aleph
a letter aleph
PARSHAT PEKUDE
SANCTITY OF TIME IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAN SANCTITY OF PLACE
MARCH 7-8, 2003/ 4 ADAR | 5763
The last two portions of the Book of Exodus
apply and repeat information found in
previous passages
SHABBAT SHEKALIM
TSEDAKAH AS AN EDUCATIONAL ANCHOR
FEBRUARY 28- MARCH 1, 2003/ 27 ADAR I 5763
This Shabbat we read the first
of four special portions from the Torah- this one is called
Parshat Shekalim.
PARSHAT KI TISA
THE SHATTERING OF THE TABLETS AS A
THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT
FEBRUARY 21-22, 2003 / 20 ADAR I 5763
Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi suggests
that in the sin of the
golden calf
PARSHAT TEZAVEH
THE IMPORTANCE OF STEPPING BACK
FEBRUARY 14 -15, 2003 / 13 ADAR I 5763
No individual is mentioned more often
in the Torah than Moshe (Moses).
In fact,
PARSHAT TERUMAH
THE ARK: ITS VERY STRUCTURE SYMBOLIZES
THE UNIQUE NATURE OF JEWISH LAW
FEBRUARY 7-8, 2003/ 6 ADAR I 5763
Each of the holy objects in the Tabernacle
had symbolic meaning. The
very structure of the Ark (Aron) in which
PARSHAT MISHPATIM
EVED IVRI: RECEIVING EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION
FEBRUARY 1, 2003 / 29 SHEVAT 5763
There are several terms in the Torah
that have no suitable English equivalent and
therefore should not be translated.
PARSHAT YITRO
THE PARENTAL RELATIONSHIP
GOES ALMOST BEYOND THE HUMAN REALM
JANUARY 24-25, 2003/ 22 SHEVAT 5763
The Ten Declarations (Aseret Ha-Dibrot)
are inscribed on two tablets. The first contains laws which govern our
interaction with God.
PARSHAT BESHALAH
ZEIT NICHT ME-YA-AISH
NEVER GIVE UP NEVER DESPAIR
JANUARY 17-18, 2003/ 15 SHEVAT 5763
In this weeks portion Moshe (Moses),
finding the Jewish people surrounded on all sides, beseeches God for help.
God responds "Ma titz-ak
ROSH CHODESH AS THE
PARADIGMATIC MITZVAH
PARSHAT BO
JANUARY 10-11, 2003/ 8 SHEVAT 5763
This week's portion records the first commandment given by God to the Jewish people. "This month shall be
to you the beginning of months;
PHAROAH AND THE NATURE OF THE GIFT OF FREE WILL
PARSHAT VA-EIRA
JANUARY 3-4, 2003 / 1 SHEVAT 5763
In this weeks portion the Torah
emphasizes that God hardened Pharaohs heart. (Exodus 7:3) Why should
Pharaoh be punished for refusing to allow the
Jews to leave Egypt
SUFFERING AS AN INGREDIENT FOR REDEMPTION
PARSHAT SHEMOT
DECEMBER 27-28, 2002/ 23 TEVET 5763
In one of the most esoteric
incidents in the Torah, our parsha narrates that as
Moshe (Moses)
traveled to Egypt
PARSHAT VA-YECHI
OUR DESTINY NOW BELONGS TO EVERYONE
DECEMBER 21, 2002/ 16 TEVET 5763
Why is Yosef (Joseph)
not considered the fourth patriarch?
PARSHAT VA-YIGASH
YOSEFS POSITION ALLOWS HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS TO SHINE
DECEMBER 14, 2002/ 9 TEVET 5763
Modern writers have often
maligned Yosef (Joseph) as a
mean spirited man.
PARSHAT MIKETZ
THE COMPASSION IN OTHERS CAN AWAKEN COMPASSION IN US
DECEMBER 7, 2002/ 2 TEVET 5763
spirited man.
In his Hilkhot Deot
(Laws of Personality Development), Maimonides emphasizes
the importance of
PARSHAT VA-YESHEV
SEEMINGLY MINOR ACTS CAN HAVE MAJOR REVERBERATIONS
NOVEMEBR 28-29, 2002/ 24 KISLEV 5763
Why does Reuven do all within
his power to prevent the sale of Yosef?
PARSHAT VA-YISHLAH
THE UNIQUE UNCONDITIONAL NATURE OF PARENTAL LOVE FOR CHILDREN
NOVEMBER 22-23 2002 / 18 KISLEV 5763
When our children commit
wrongful acts, how should we respond? What should be our attitude?
What should be our attitude?
PARSHAT VA-YETZE
THE PATRIARCHS AND PERSONAL PRAYER
NOVEMBER 15-16, 2002 / 16 KISLEV 5763
The Torah in this weeks portion tells us that as Yaakov (Jacob) left
home he "encountered the place va-yifga bamakom."
PARSHAT TOLDOT
INTEGRATING THE PAST INTO OUR PERSONAL JOURNEYS
NOVEMBER 8-9, 2002 / 4 KISLEV 5763
At the onset of this week's parsha the Torah states, "These are the generations of Yitzhak (Isaac), Avraham's (Abraham's)
son: Avraham begot Yitzhak."
PARSHAT HAYEI SARAH
THE ETHICS OF TAKING TZEDAKAH
NOVEMBER 1-2, 2002 / 27 HESHVAN 5763
Jewish organizations rely heavily on individual donors.
Often, however, ethical dilemmas arise when.
PARSHAT VA-YEIRAH
THE TRUE COVENANTAL HEIR OF AVRAHAM
OCTOBER 25-26, 2002 / 20 HESHVAN 5763
After Yishmael is born to Avraham (Abraham) and Hagar,
God tells Avraham
PARSHAT NOACH
THE THREE STAGES OF CREATION
OCTOBER 11-12, 2002/ 6 HESHVAN 5763
In many ways, the Noach and creation stories
are parallel.
PARSHAT VEZOT HA-BERAKHA
THE TORAH: BLACK FIRE ON WHITE FIRE
SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2002/ 23 TISHREI 5763
The last portion of the Torah includes one of its more esoteric phrases -"eish da'at, phrases -"eish da'at, the fiery law." (Deuteronomy 33:2).
SUCCOT AND EMPTY SYNAGOGUES
SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2002/ 15 TISHREI 5763
Synagogues have been packed. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
are the busiest
times for synagogues times
for synagogues.
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