Rabbi Mordecai Finley: Midrash on Torah Portion Shemot reading with Avivah Zornberg

Please check out this exciting teaching by Rabbi Mordecai Finley

Encounter or Epiphany – Your Choice By Rabbi Adam Ruditsky

Shemot, or the book of Exodus, begins “These are the names of the children of Israel,” or the children of Jacob who came out of Egypt, the opening words of parasha Shemot.  

Rabbi Art Levine Dvar Torah Shemot January 9 2021

Under five-minute teaching regarding Exodus 4:1 (Torah Portion Shemot)

Rabbi Mordecai Finley: Vayigash – The Ghost of Rachel in the Nile Bar and Grill

Rabbi Finley has come to think that Joseph had trouble understanding other people, either because of his personality or trauma. His father Jacob has “checked out”, much like his grandfather Isaac had “checked out”. Perhaps Joseph was better off growing up in Egypt, rather than at home. He did well for himself in Egypt…

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks: Inspired by Faith, We Can Change the World

Rabbi cites the Prophet Zechariah: ‘“Not by might nor by strength, but by My Spirit” says the Lord,’ in describing the remarkable achievement of the Maccabees.

Rabbi Arthur O. Waskow: Hanukkah and the Winter Solstice

It is possible that the Syrian Greeks chose the latter part of Kislev, the 25th of Kislev, in fact, to desecrate the Temple by making their own sacrifices because it was the time of the winter solstice and the waning of the moon.

Rabbi Adam Ruditsky Parashah Vayishlach

When we do yeshivah on Yom Kippur, there is a duality: the relationship between a person and God, and the relationship between two individuals. Jacob has struggled in the past with his connection to God. Now he struggles with the connection to his brother.

Rabbi Stacy Rigler:  Faith and Belief

Rabbi Rigler asks the question: what does “religious” look like?”  Parashat Mikeitz relies on the faith of multiple characters, reminding us of the importance of our inner voice.  Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams with complete confidence in his own abilities. 

The Velveteen Rabbi:  Chanukah Light in a Small Town

Rabbi Rachel Barenblat writes about representation in a small town where various crises occurred and how the people resolved the situations.  Please follow the link below to read her beautiful article.  Please continue to read her Drash on the New Tamid. 

Rabbi Yisroel Ciner and Torah.org: Not Just One in a Crowd

During the week+1 of Chanukkah, we read through the parashah of Naso, which addresses the induction of the Tabernacle.  In this Orthodox perspective of the parashah, Rabbi Miner makes the point that every single person matters.