Rabbi’s Torah Commentary

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T!” Aretha, the Queen Mother of Soul, taught us how to spell the most important word in interpersonal relationships. When one understands the true meaning of the word “Respect,” one has the power to change the world. So, let’s look at the word. According to Merriam-Webster, “Respect” has several definitions, and each would lend to […]

Have you ever had one of those moments when you must take a deep breath and exclaim in exasperation, “God, I don’t get it (or worse … adding all sorts of expletives)?” Even the most devout of acclaimed atheists have these moments; they just don’t use the word “God.” As I grew up studying history, […]

What would happen if you were not here? This is an odd question, but … have you ever wondered what the world would be like if you were not here? Jimmy Stewart starred in a movie on this theme. “It’s A Wonderful Life” is, and always will be, one of my favorite movies. It gets […]

A couple has their daughter and her fiancé over for dinner. After a pleasant evening, the “kids” left. As mom and dad were cleaning up, the man said, “What a nice man!” Mom looked at him in exasperation, “Really, you asked him how he was going to support our daughter and he has no job! […]

It is all about love. I was in a meeting this week where a leader in the organization said that sustaining an organization was simple: you give because you love the organization. Even while I heartily agreed with him, I responded that the answer really didn’t help the conversation … not without a lot more […]

Religion has been lying to us for thousands of years, and the results have polarized the world. On the one hand, it provides amazing and life affirming opportunities for growth. On the other hand, it rips the world apart at the seams. The entirety of this conundrum comes from this week’s Torah portion. Ok, maybe […]

I have to wonder what it would be like to stand on the shore of the sea and have it split open wide before me. To watch the fish come to the brink of the water, and as if hitting the side of the aquarium tank … they abruptly turn and change course. Imagine the […]

In as much as I am trying to detail the trip I am currently participating in … in Israel, I am not in a position to sit down and attempt an earth shattering Torah commentary, but I had to say something on this portion. A large part of our Jewish tradition roots in this week’s […]

Wednesdays provide me with a unique opportunity to frame my thoughts on the weekly Torah portion. I get to speak with our Religious School students and share an idea or two that can be gleaned from the text. This week, as I was preparing for events surrounding Dr. King’s birthday, I had to also wrestle […]

This week, we begin a new book of the Torah. In Hebrew the name of the book is “Shemot (names),” for the book begins, “These are the names (of the folks who went to Egypt).” The English title of the book is “Exodus,” because the book revolves thematically around the story of the Exodus from […]