Published April 29, 2021 by the JCC Association Since the pandemic, I’ve heard many people remark on how time itself feels different. Sometimes it feels that things that happened recently feel longer ago, and sometimes things that took place a year ago feel like they only just happened. Whatever markers we use for our sense of the passage of time seem not to be working as well for us as they were in the “before times.” There’s a passage in Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23) that can help us understand why we might feel this way. Leviticus chapter 23:1 talks of the annual holidays as both fixed in time and needing to be proclaimed by Israel Read More

Dvar Torah given at Ramah Darom March 29, 2021 Hag Sameah! It is so good to be here together! Two years ago, when those of us who were here at Ramah Darom said goodbye to one another we had little idea of what the past year would be like. Given everything, to be able to stand here, in this place, at this time feels miraculous. ברוך הטוב והמטיב- Blessed is the one who is good and who causes good to happen. Thanks also to the excellent staff at Ramah Darom who persisted in finding a way for us to be together. And thanks to each of you who for taking the decisions and following the protocols so that we could be part of this special Passover at Ramah Darom community  together. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the formative communal experiences that shape whole generations. I suspect that this time of pandemic is such an experience. For our ancestors, the experience of slavery in Egypt and the liberation of our people was another such experience for their generation and its influence has endured until today. As just one example, more than a couple dozen times in the Torah we

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Published June 2, 2020 by The Jewish Theological Seminary Naso opens up with a census of the Levites, who will be responsible for transporting parts of the Mishkan. Num. 4:3 specifies that those who will be engaged in this work are to be between the ages of 30 and 50 and fit for service when the Mishkan is operating. At first glance, the details of which family is to carry which piece of equipment seem trivial at best. Read More

Dvar Torah given at Kehilat Hadar, July 29, 2017 Actions speak louder than words Talk is cheap אֱמֹר מְעַט וַעֲשֵׂה הַרְבֵּה

Dvar Torah given at Ohr Kodesh Congregation, September 28, 2015 Do you know the minimum size of a sukkah? What is the smallest a sukkah could be and still be kosher? What I find interesting about this question is that for many halakhot with physical parameters some of the minimum requirements are quite well known. What you need for a kosher lulav and etrog, how much matzah we have to eat or what constitutes the basic components of mishloah manot.

Dvar Torah given at Kehilat Hadar, September 23, 2015 Throughout the liturgy of Yom Kippur we have recited line after line asking God to hear us, answer us. We ask in plural: משענה לרבקה בלכתה לדרוש הוא יעננו May the one who answered Rebecca when she went seeking answer us and in first person: ה׳ שמע בקולי- תהיינה אזנך קשובות לקול תחנוני God hear my voice, may your ears pay attention to the voice of my supplication. Over and over we cry out: