Sukkot is sometimes called Z’man Simchateinu – the season of our joy. And yet, there is something almost strange about the way we celebrate this joy: we leave our sturdy homes and…

There is something especially meaningful about having a Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We have begun the work of teshuvah: of repentance, reflection, and change and then Judaism gives us…

On this Shabbat as we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we are asked to do something that is both simple and profoundly difficult: to remember. We remember the year that has passed. We…

This Shabbat is different from other Shabbatot. We stand at the threshold of a new year, just before Selichot, just before Rosh Hashanah. In additiion, this year, there is another…

This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8), is often remembered for its dramatic blessings and curses, but it begins in a much quieter place: gratitude. “When you enter the land… you…

This week’s portion, Ki Tetzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19) contains more mitzvot (commandments) than any other portion. While the laws seem unrelated, they share a common message: holilness is found in the ordinary. The Torah teaches that…

Tonight marks exactly four weeks until we gather to welcome the new year, 5787. Elul began yesterday and the horizon of the New Year is coming into view. We read Shoftim (Deuteronomy…

This week’s Torah portion, Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17)begins with a powerful invitation: “See (Re’eh), I place before you today a blessing and a curse.” (11:26) The Torah does not say, “Listen,” or “Understand.” It says, “See.” Seeing…

There is a quiet irony in the Jewish calendar. Just a little more than a week after we mourn the destruction of the Temples on Tisha B’Av, we begin reading Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25),…