Shabbat Forshpeis
A Taste of Torah in Honor of Shabbat
Previous Divrei Torah
REFLECTIONS ON THE SHOFAR
SEPTEMBER 16-18, 2004/ 1-3 TISHREI 5764
Autumn Approaches. Before we even realize, the weather begins to turn,
the colors deepen.
PARSHAT NITZAVIM-VAYELEKH
THE MEANING OF THE VOICE OF THE SHOFAR
SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2004 / 25 ELUL 5764
The portion Nitzavim, is replete with
urgings to return to God.
PARSHAT KI TAVOH
THE DAYS OF AWE MIRROR THE FINAL DAYS IN THE DESERT
SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2004 / 18 ELUL 5764
As the Jews prepare to enter Israel after
40 years of desert migration,
PARSHAT KI TETZE
THE AGUNAH PROBLEM IN PERSPECTIVE
AUGUST 27-28 2004/ 11 ELUL 5764
This week's portion touches upon the controversial
issue of spouses who
PARSHAT SHOFTIM
WAR IS A LAST RESORT
AUGUST 20-21 2004/ 3-4 ELUL 5764
This week's parsha discusses the issue of war and reveals that war
is only undertaken as a last resort.
PARSHAT RE'EH
THE BASIC NEED FOR ORAL LAW
AUGUST 13-14 2004/ 27 AV 5764
This week's portion-according to many commentators, including
Rashi--makes it clear that
PARSHAT EKEV
BOTH THE COLLECTIVE AND THE INDIVIDUAL BRING REDEMPTION
AUGUST 6-7 2004/ 20 AV 5764
This week's portion begins with the statement "Ve-hayah ekev tishmeun et ha-mishpatim ha-eileh -
and if you listen to these laws" reward will come. (Deuteronomy 7:12-15)
PARSHAT VA-ETHANAN
TWO WORDS THAT ECHO THE MESSAGE OF SHABBAT
JULY 30-31, 2004 / 13 AV 5764
For the second time in the Torah, the Aseret
Ha-Dibbrot
PARSHAT DEVARIM
DIFFERENT MODELS FOR MEMORY
JULY 23-24, 2004 / 6 AV 5764
The Book of Devarim begins with
Moshe's reprimand
PARSHIOT MATOT/ MASEI
OUR PRISON SYSTEM SHOULD LEARN FROM THE CITIES OF REFUGEE
JULY 16-17 2004/ 28 TAMMUZ 5764
According to the Torah, one who kills inadvertently,
escapes to the cities of refuge (arei miklat).
PARSHAT PINHAS
IS ZEALOTRY THE PATHWAY TO PEACE
JULY 9-10, 2004/ 21 TAMMUZ 5764
After Pinhas killed the Jewish man and Midianite woman
who were committing immoral acts,
PARSHAT BALAK
THE COMING APART AND THE COMING TOGETHER:
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATION OF MOAB
JULY 2-3 2004/14 TAMMUZ 5764
In this week's portion, Balak, King of Moab, hires Bilaam to curse the
nation of Israel. (Numbers 22:5,6)
PARSHAT HUKAT
KEEPING THE EGO IN CHECK
JUNE 25-26, 2004 / 7 TAMMUZ 5764
In this weeks portion Moshe (Moses) is told that he would not enter
Israel because he hit the rock,
instead of speaking to it.
PARSHAT KORACH
TWO MODELS OF DEALING WITH COMMUNAL CRISIS
JUNE 18-19 2004/ 23 SIVAN 5764
The story of Korach's rebellion
contains echoes of
PARSHAT SHELACH
THE MEANING OF THE TZITZIT
JUNE 11-12, 2004 / 23 SIVAN 5764
What is the purpose of
wearing tzitzit,
PARSHAT BEHA'ALOTKHA
THE ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE OF
THE SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS
JUNE 4-5 2004/ 16 SIVAN 5764
In this week's parsha,
God tells
YOM TOV FORSHPEIS
A TASTE OF TORAH IN HONOR OF YOM TOV
SHAVUOT
ACTIONS INSPIRE LOVE
MAY 25-27, 2004/ 6-7 SIVAN 5764
It was during the
time of Shavuot
PARSHAT BAMIDBAR
REDEEMING THE FIRSTBORN AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT
MAY 21-22 2004/ 2 SIVAN 5764
The Torah,
in this week's portion, alludes
PARSHAT BEHAR-BEHUKOTAI
THE ULTIMATE BLESSING IN LIFE
MAY 14-15, 2004/ 24 IYAR 5764
The blessings in the portion
of Behukotai
PARSHAT EMOR
ENJOYING THE MOMENT AND THEN PUTTING
IT IN PERSPECIVE
MAY 7-8, 2004 /17 IYAR 5764
When our oldest daughter Dena
was wed to Mark,
PARSHAT AHAREI MOT-KEDOSHIM
A DIVINE VIEW OF THE ELDERLY
APRIL 30 - MAY 1 2004/ 10IYYAR 5764
Why does the Torah conclude the mandate
to honor the elderly
PARSHAT TAZRIA - METZORA
REKINDLING LOVE BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE
APRIL 23-24 2004/ 3 IYAR 5764
Those who seek reasons for Jewish ritual
(ta'amei ha-mitzvot)
PARSHAT SHMINI
PRESERVING THE MEMORY OF THE HOLOCAUST
APRIL 16-17 2004/ 26 NISSAN 5764
It's during these days that Jews throughout the world
remember the Holocaust (Shoah).
PESACH 5764
THE DEEPER MEANING OF DAYENU
APRIL 5-13, 2004/ 14-22 NISSAN 5764
Perhaps the most famous song in the
haggadah is Dayenu.
PARSHAT TZAV
THE IMPORTANCE OF SAYING THANK YOU
APRIL 2-3, 2004/ 12 NISSAN 5764
This week's Torah portion
tells us that
PARSHAT VA-YIKRA
WOMEN, SACRIFICES AND CONTEMPORARY MITZVOT
MARCH 26-27, 2004/ 5 NISSAN 5764
The Torah in this week's portion
informs us that
PARSHAT VA-YAKHEL PIKUDEI
DETAILS GIVE US EQUAL ACCESS TO THE DIVINE
MARCH 19-20 2004/ 27 ADAR 5764
No less than seven portions
are dedicated
PARSHAT KI TISA
GODS TEMPERING JUSTICE WITH MERCY
MARCH 12-13 2004/ 20 ADAR 5764
Rabbi Menachem Liebtag argues that
the thirteen attributes
PARSHAT TEZAVEH
THE SOFT CALL OF THE PRIESTLY BELLS
MARCH 5-6 2004/ 13 ADAR 5764
The Torah tells us
in this week's portion
PARSHAT TERUMAH
THE KINDLING OF THE MENORAH
AS A PARADIGM FOR HUMAN SPIRITUALITY
FEBRUARY 27-28 2004/ 6 ADAR 5764
From a strictly
halakhic perspective,
PARSHAT MISHPATIM
A MESSAGE ABOUT ROAD SAFETY
FEBRUARY 20-21 2004/ 29 SHEVAT 5764
As a teacher
of Torah, I have often heard
PARSHAT YITRO
THE LESSONS OF THE RAMPS TO THE ALTAR
FEBRUARY 13-14 2004/ 22 SHEVAT 5764
The last sentence
of this week's portion states
PARSHAT BESHALAH
THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
IS THE MOST EVERLASTING
FEBRUARY 6-7 2004/ 15 SHVAT 5764
An examination of the first time Jews
praised God after
PARSHAT BO
EVEN THE DARKEST MOMENTS
CONTAIN SPARKS OF HOPE
JANUARY 30-31 2004/ 8 SHEVAT 5764
The Biblical term for
midnight,
PARSHAT VA-EIRA
IN THE END, THE FACE OF TRUTH ALWAYS EMERGES
JANUARY 23-24, 2004/ 1 SHEVAT 5764
If the Egyptian magicians
did not have godly powers,
PARSHAT SHEMOT
TRUE HEROES ARE OFTEN KNOWN ONLY TO GOD
JANUARY 16-17 2004/ 23 TEVET 5764
Who were the midwives that were
asked by Pharaoh
PARSHAT VA-YECHI
ALTHOUGH DIFFICULT,
OPENNESS IS THE KEY TO TRUE UNDERSTANDING
JANUARY 9-10, 2004 / 16 TEVET 5764
Describing the brothers feelings
after the death of
SHABBAT FORSHPEIS
A TASTE OF TORAH IN HONOR OF SHABBAT
PARSHAT VA-YIGASH
THE LESSONS OF GOSHEN
JANUARY 2-3 2004 / 9 TEVET 5764
What makes Yosef (Joseph) so
keen on settling his families in a suburb
PARSHAT MIKETZ
REAL COURAGE IS ACTING EVEN WHEN
YOU ARE UNSURE OF THE OUTCOME
8TH DAY OF CHANUKAH-2 TEVET 5764/ DECEMBER 26-27, 2003
In this weeks portion, Yaakov
(Jacob) hesitates
PARSHAT VA-YEISHEV
YAAKOV'S DESIRE TO CHANGE THE FAMILY DESTINY
DECEMBER 19-20, 2003/ 25 KISLEV 5764
After Yosef's (Joseph) two dreams
his siblings are naturally
PARSHAT VAYISHLACH
THE DUAL IMPORTANCE OF BOTH THE
SPIRITUAL AND THE PHYSICAL CHALLENGE
DECEMBER 12-13 2003/ 18 KISLEV 5764
One of the most powerful images in
the Torah
PARSHAT VAYETZE
EVERY RELATIONSHIP CONTAINS
ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE
DECEMBER 5-6 2003/ 11 KISLEV 5764
How is it possible that Yaacov
(Jacob) didn't know
----
PARSHAT TOLDOT
THE REPAIR OF PARENTS MISSTEPS CAN
OFTEN BE DONE THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN
NOVEMBER 28-29 2003/ 4 KISLEV 5764
Standing before his father Yitzchak (Isaac), Yaakov (Jacob)
claims that he
PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH
GER TOSHAV: THE PERMANENT AND
TEMPORARY STATUS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE
NOVEMBER 21-22, 2003 /27 HESHVAN 5764
As he buys a burial plot for his wife Sarah,
Avraham
PARSHAT VA-YERA
AVRAHAM, UNIVERSALISM AND NATIONALISM
NOVEMBER 14-15 2003/ 13 HESHVAN 5764
This weeks portion (Va-yera)
parallels
PARSHAT LEKH-LEKHAH
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PLANTERS
OF THE SEEDS OF GREATNESS
NOVEMBER 7-8 2003 / 13 HESHVAN 5764
Terah, Avrahams (Abraham) father,
is often viewed as
PARSHAT NOACH
HOW TO REACT WHEN DISAPPOINTED
BY THE ONES WE LOVE
OCTOBER 31- NOVEMBER 1, 2003/ 6 HESHVAN 5764
After leaving the ark,
Noah
PARSHAT BEREISHIT
THE IMAGE OF GOD IN ALL OF US:
LESSONS AND CHALLENGES
OCTOBER 24-25, 2003 / 29 TISHREI 5764
While some maintain
that the human being
PARSHAT VE-ZOT HA-BERAKHAH
A SIMCHAT TORAH REFLECTION
OCTOBER 18-19, 2003 / 22-23 TISHREI 5764
The last portion
of the Torah reverberates
SUKKOT: MAYBE THE HIGHEST OF OUR HOLIDAYS
AS IT REFLECTS THE TRUE JEWISH SPIRIT
OCTOBER 10-11, 2003 / 14 TISHREI 5764
Our synagogues
are packed on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
THE MEANING OF TESHUVA
PARSHAT HA'AZINU
OCTOBER 3-4, 2003 / 7 TISHREI 5764
The central theme of Yom Kippur is
teshuva, commonly translated as "repentance."
A ROSH HASHANAH REFLECTION
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESENT
SEPTEMBER 27-28, 2003 / 1-2 TISHREI 5764
We live in a world where
people emphasize
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