Rabbi Adam Rudisky: Parashat Eikev
The theme for the parashah and for the haftarah is God’s unending love for Israel. Rabbi Ruditsky writes of people—biblical and other—who dare to question God in their personal and unique perspectives.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: The Spirituality of Listening
Rabbi Sacks writes about the word Shema: it is fundamentally untranslatable. Hearing and listening have so many meanings. Rabbi Sacks refers to the 2 key influences on Western culture: Ancient Israel and Greece. While Greece was a visual culture, Judaism is based on a faith in an invisible God.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: The Power of Why
In parashat Va’etchanan, Moses speaks of the uniqueness of Jewish history, the singularity of Israel’s redemption by God. While so much of the Torah is about “what” to do, or “how” to do it, Va’etchanan is about “why”: Why did God choose Israel for redemption?
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Parashat Va’et’chanan
Rabbi Ruditsky writes about seeing versus hearing, as depicted in the Shema, and links it to Tisha B’Av, where we mourn the impact of words said and their outcome.
Rabbi Rachel Axelrad: Parashat Devarim
Parashat Devarim introduces themes relating to wisdom in leadership, rather than power and authority, and the uniqueness of Israel that is based on the valuable teaching they received rather than any superiority to others. Please open the attached document to read a study guide for discussions based on several known commentaries:
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Parashat Devarim – Growing Old, Staying Young
Rabbi Sacks cites Deut 34:7, which states that Moses’ ‘eye was undimmed and his natural energy was unabated’ at the age of 120. He never lost his youthful idealism, and his passion for justice and the responsibilities of freedom. Instead of reminiscing in his old age, he turns to generatively, and the keeping of meaning.
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Parasha Devarim
Rabbi Ruditsky writes about the power of words, as in the importance of vows at the end of Numbers, and the nature of words at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Words are our primary medium of communication, and have power for both good and bad.
Rabbi Corinne Copnick: Window to the Outside World
Rabbi Copnick’s article, written a few years ago, is surprisingly relevant today in a post-COVID world that has come to embrace zoom technology. Please follow the link below to read her article:
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l: Matot-Masei – The Complexity of Human Rights
The daughters of Tzelophehad claimed their rights as individuals, rather than as a group. Yet individualism is also synonymous with chaos. Thus, the tribes as a society formed the organizing principle of Judaism. Therefore, their rights were offset by the tribal rights of the male relatives.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Pinchas – Moshe’s Disappointment
Rabbi Sacks asks the question: Why did Moshe’s prayer for a successor appear here, instead of 7 chapters earlier, when God informed him that he would die in the wilderness? He identifies the first clue—if the daughters of Zelophechad could inherit, then why couldn’t his sons? The second clue is that he wanted to die like Aaron, whose sons inherited his position.