D'var Torah

Rabbi Sharyn Henry reflects on what it means to argue for the sake of heaven in Parshat Korach.

Divrei Torah for Tisha B'Av by Rabbis Edward C. Bernstein, Ruhi Sophia Motzkin Rubenstein, Lizz Goldstein, Lev Meirowitz Nelson and Denise Handlarski.

Rabbi Josh Whinston calls for moral scouts in our own times.

Rabbi Micah Liben calls us to resist complacency and to remain vigilant when our rights are in danger.

Rabbi Dr. Jenny Solomon discusses the importance of blessing with love.

Rabbi Kimberly Herzog Cohen writes on Bamidbar and making every person count.

Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann writes on guarding ourselves against hopelessness.

Commentary on Parshat Behar (Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2) In Leviticus 25, the Torah famously explains the practice of the sabbatical year (shmitah) and the jubilee year (yovel), in which those who work the land refrain from farming in order to let the land rest. It’s not hard to see a connection between the ancient practice...

“Praying for freedom never did me any good ‘til I started praying with my feet.” – Frederik Douglas “On the seventh day there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred occasion.  You shall do no work.” – Leviticus 23:2-3 (Parshat Emor) We are blessed to live in a thriving democracy.  Though American and...

Commentary on Parshat Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27) In the Bible, there are two traditions, the prophetic and the priestly, both of which aim at building a good society, but do so taking very different approaches. In the Haftarah read on Yom Kippur the prophet Isaiah famously demands: “Is such the fast I desire, a...