Rabbi Rachel Barenblat Fragile Rejoicing: Songs for Sukkot
Fragile rejoicing – songs for Sukkot
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l: Vezot Habracha Moshe: A Human Being, a Burning Bush
Rabbi Sacks writes of parallels and contrasts represented in the life of Moses. He died, as the text states, “his eyes undimmed, his energy unabated”, whereas Abraham died “an old man and full of years.” Moses never lost the vision that drove him to the end from his original encounter with God at the burning bush. Yet he was the ultimate in humility.
Rabbi Angela Buchdahl: The Love of Tochecha
Rabbi Buchdahl teaches that “rebuke” – the usual translation of tochecha – doesn’t quite capture the meaning. The root means “evidence”; giving someone tochecha is like holding up a mirror to them. Tochecha, in reality, relates to love. What do love and tochecha have to do with Yom Kippur?
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag: Haazinu The Purpose of Shirat Haazinu
Rabbi Leibtag asks the question: Who’s to blame when something goes wrong? God states, as fact, that the people will go astray and break the covenant. Yet the purpose is not to depress Moshe, but to give the people the necessary tools in case the situation does arise. The tool comes from the Shira.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Haazinu Moses the Man
Scholars throughout the ages see Moses in different ways. He is said to have dialoged with the angels, who questioned why humans would be given something so sacred. He is unique when compared to other prophets; he was wide awake when he received his prophecies, God’s communications were not oblique, and God spoke to him as a man speaks to his friend.
Musical Treats: Achalt Sha’alti
(Duet for Elul) – אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי – Lea K & Rabbi T feat. Coleen Dieker
Rabbi Lauren Tuchman: Nitzavim Longing For Our Leaders
Rabbi Tuchman writes about the parashah as if it is another moment of revelation. The Torah exists within each of us. She writes that when we welcome Jews from all backgrounds into our communities, we find the Torah within them and it is deeper, and more spiritually alive.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Nitzavim Why Be Jewish?
As Moses is close to death, his concern for the people is to preclude any future generation saying that they are not bound by the covenant, only their ancestors. His statement “Whoever is not here” cannot refer to Israelites at the time who were somewhere else; the text informs us that the entire nation was present. Therefore, it can only refer to future generations. Rabbi Sacks questions how we can be obligated without consent.
Rabbi Bernie Fox: Ki Tavo What Was Written on the Stones?
Rabbi Fox raises the question of what was actually written on the stones. Moses instructs the nation to record the Torah on 12 stones, but no other detail is provided. Commentators present different options: the 613 Mitzvot, the entire Torah…Moses also gives instructions on reciting blessings and curses from 2 different mountains. Yet, what were the blessings? Were they assumed to be the opposite of each curse? e.g. refrain from creating an idol vs creating an idol
AlephBeta: Ki Tavo Summary & Commentary
The scholars of AlephBeta refer to the 2 laws that will only go into effect when the Israelites enter the land: bikkurim, or first fruits, and ma’aser, or tithing. The scholars observe that there is a very specific passage that must be recited when offering the first fruits; one that references the redemption to Egypt, with a Divine promise to inherit the land. The act of tithing relates back to Jacob, who made a vow to give a ma’aser to God.