The Erie Canal was not built in a day or two or three. The idea for it was generated in the 1780s. Construction officially started in 1817 and went until 1825, but the canal continued to be developed until 1918. …
Torah Thoughts – Noah – Genesis.6.9-11.32 – “Our 70th Year Reunion”
If you leave off the animals, the flood, the rainbow and any other specific details of the story of Noah, what you are left with is an immigration tale. Displaced by violence and an ecological disaster, our Biblical protagonist sets…
Torah Thoughts – Bereishit – Genesis.1.1-6.8 – “Welcome Home!”
As frustrating it is to start back at the beginning, it can be liberating as well. Reading the first lines of Genesis again is an opportunity to find new interpretations and new meanings. While the Torah is the same, we…
Torah Thoughts – Ha’azinu – Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 – “One Final Poem”
As always, on Ha’azinu, Moses’ last poem to the People of Israel, I share a poem. This one is taken from a Jewish Italian poet named Umberto Saba (1883-1857). He converted to Judaism as a young man, and then, refused…
Torah Thoughts – Vayeilech – Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30 – “You Are All Here to Listen to a Frog”
Perhaps the strangest commencement speeches of all time began with a few opening remarks given in a high-pitched awkward stutter, followed by the words: “You are all here to listen to a frog.” By frog, he was referring to perhaps…
Torah Thoughts – Nitzavim – Deuteronomy.29.9-30.20 – “We’re Still Standing”
In the chorus to the hit 1983 song “I’m Still Standing,” Elton John triumphantly announces to the world: “Don’t you know, I’m still standin’ better than I ever did?/ Lookin’ like a true survivor, feelin’ like a little kid/And I’m…
Torah Thoughts – Ki Tavo – Deuteronomy.26.1-29.8 “Pay Attention”
In looking through the Torah recently, I noticed something subtle but important. While most portions are relatively easy to find. Their initial verses are unusual enough that they stand out. This is not the case with either this week or…
Torah Thoughts – Shoftim – Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 – “Justice On the Run”
In English, justice can be denied or deferred. We can bring someone to justice or do justice for someone. Justice is blind and is also poetic, but for the most part it is stationary. Justice sits on her throne, scales…
Torah Thoughts – Re’eh – Deuteronomy.11.26-16.17 – “The Biblical School of Hard Knocks”
There is a wonderful scene at the beginning of a recent episode of Hard Knocks featuring Buffalo Bills’ head coach Sean McDermott addressing the team in training camp. He shares a story from his college career at William Mary where…
Torah Thoughts Eikev – Deuteronomy.7.12-11.25 “Our Burden and Our Joy”
One of the most surprising elements about the new HBO MAX documentary about Billy Joel, “And So It Goes,” is the singer’s Jewish story. His father’s family only narrowly escaped capture in the late 1930s. They owned a successful textile…