This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, means “when you enter.” As we move to the conclusion of Deuteronomy, Moses is preparing the people for their arrival in the Holy Land. I always love how this portion coincides with the Shabbat…
Torah Thoughts – Ki Teitzei – Deuteronomy – 21.10-25.19 – “Getting Max Home Safely”
There is an old brown St Bernard named Max that on occasion winds its way around the interconnected streets of our neighborhood and plops itself down on our front lawn. Out of breath from his journey through various backyards, we…
Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul. by Dr. Robert S. Marcus
Sometimes a single quote, read at the right time, can send the reader off on a journey to learn more about its context and origins. This is what happened to Rabbi Naomi Levy, who read a profoundly moving letter from…
Torah Thoughts – Shoftim – Deuteronomy 16.18-21.9 – “This is An Hour of Change”
There is an English reading in the Mishnah Tefillah prayer book that I often read on Friday night. It speaks of the transition between day and night as being a pivotal moment of crossing over. I love the sense the…
Torah Thoughts – Re’eh – Deuteronomy – 11.26-16.17 – “Our Buffalo Jewish Family”
On a recent vacation to the Midwest, my family and I made a stop at Cedar Point, a large amusement park outside of Toledo. As soon as we entered the park, we noticed several people wearing bright blue t-shirts emblazoned…
Torah Thoughts – Eikev – Deuteronomy – 7.12-11.25 – “The Heroism of Salman Rushdie”
As many of you know, I spent last weekend at Chautauqua Institute co-leading services at the Hebrew Congregation of Chautauqua. Just a few hours before setting out, I received the horrifying news of the attack on author Salman Rushdie right…
Torah Thoughts – Vaetchanan – Deuteronomy.3.23-7.11 – “On the Doorposts of Your Home”
Walking through an exhibit on Senegal in The Field Museum in Chicago, my family and I were surprised to see a familiar Jewish ritual item – a Mezuzah. In an exhibit on door post totems, it was included among a…
High Holy Days -5783/2022
Torah Thoughts – Devarim – Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 – “The Power of Adon Olam”
How many of you have a favorite Adon Olam melody? There are so many to choose from. Indeed, it is the type of song that can be sung to almost any melody from Yellow Submarine to Yankee Doodle and anything…
Shir Shalom & the Environment – What the Supreme Court Decision on the EPA Means
by Joe Morris In late June, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that the existing Clean Air Act only applies to reducing coal plants’ emissions and not mandating their replacement. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the conservative majority: “Capping carbon dioxide emissions at…