February 26, 2021 CHAG SAMEACH! and HAPPY PURIM! It is hard to believe that we have been living with the pandemic for a full year. The Coronavirus first hit our…

February 19, 2021 As a student of mathematics, sometimes I like to play with numbers.  I hear stories about the declining religiosity of Americans, mostly from parents who are concerned…

February 12, 2021 On Sunday, some will celebrate the holiday of roses and candy hearts. Even though Valentine’s Day got its start as a Christian liturgical celebration, this week’s Torah…

February 5, 2021 “The entire people responded together and said, ‘Everything that God has spoken we will do!’” (Ex. 19.8) With these words from this week’s portion, Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23),…

January 8, 2021 This week’s Torah portion, Shemot (Exodus 1:1-6:1), is the beginning of the second book. Exodus; and the story of Moses’ beginning as a leader for the Jewish…

January 1, 2021 Happy New Year! This whole New Year thing, it really leaves me very confused and filled with mixed emotions. We become very reflective, as we look back…

December 25, 2020 This week’s Torah portion, Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) has a beautiful phrase, “His soul is bound to his soul.” (44:30) In the dramatic scene when Judah is pleading…

December 18, 2021 The entire story of Joseph, which spans three Torah portions in the latter third of the Book of Genesis, centers around dreams: their interpretation and the actions…

December 11, 2020 There is an interesting moment in this week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23), during Joseph’s search for his brothers. Initially, Joseph seeks them in Shechem, where Jacob…

November 27, 2020 We find in this week’s portion. Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3), Jacob working in the home of his uncle Laban, working hard to win the hand of his beloved…

November 20, 2020 There are things in life we all take for granted: the roof over our head; food on the table; the privilege of participating in our political process—we…