We are excited to begin our monthly study of The Observant Life: The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism for Contemporary Jews, this Shabbat at a lunch and learn following services. This week, we will be addressing the chapter “Citizenship” by Rabbi Jane Kanarek. Rabbi Kanarek’s approach is to “isolate several discrete aspects of living in a democratic Continue Reading »
In this week’s presidential debate, we heard thoughts from President Obama and Governor Romney on the role of government in America. Whether we agree with one approach or the other, it’s worth noting that neither candidate’s perspective bears any resemblance to authority as the ancient author of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) experienced it. Consider the following excerpt from chapter Continue Reading »
We are a little more than a week away from a big transitional moment in the Jewish year. On Shmini ‘Atzeret, we will begin mentioning God’s ability to bring rain–geshem–after six months of mentioning dew–tal. When it comes to sustaining the Land of Israel, the difference between rain and dew is clearly linked to the calendar. Continue Reading »
Do we still have a chance? “When all these things befall you…and you take them to heart…and you return to the LORD your God, and you and your children heed His command will all your heart and soul…then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and take you back in love” (Deuteronomy 30:1-3) This Continue Reading »
The origins of the joke are uncertain, but its punchline has become a common figure of speech. The Lone Ranger and Tonto are surrounded by hostile Native Americans. The Lone Ranger turns to his trusted sidekick and says, “Tonto, it looks like we’re going to die.” Tonto saunters over to their captors and says to Continue Reading »
You can find 74 mitzvot in this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tetzei, making it the most law-heavy parashah of the annual cycle. Each mitzvah can be the topic of a fascinating detailed discussion, but we don’t have to cover them all in one year! Instead, let’s isolate two different mitzvot, and when we look at the reason for them, we’ll learn Continue Reading »
As Thomas Cahill famously wrote, monotheism was one of the greatest “Gifts of the Jews.” Did this gift come with a steep cost? You be the judge, based on these two verses from this week’s parashah, Re-eh: “You must destroy all the sites at which the nations you are to dispossess worshiped their gods, whether on lofty Continue Reading »
One phrase in Moshe’s ongoing farewell speech has become a key part of our prayers. In describing God’s greatness, Moshe uses the phrase “Ha-El Hagadol Hagibor veHanora–the great, the mighty, and the awesome God” (Deuteronomy 10:17). These words were incorporated into the first blessing of the Amidah, becoming so entrenched as a formula that when Continue Reading »
On Wednesday night, MetLife Stadium was again the site of a large crowd of Jews. This time, the purpose of the gathering was not to issue public warnings about the dangers of the internet. It was to celebrate the completion of another cycle of the Daf Yomi project, in which Jews study a double-sided page of the Continue Reading »
For 40 years, Moshe held his feelings more or less in check. But now, at the beginning of Sefer Devarim, his Book of Words, he lets loose. He spares few details and even fewer feelings as he recounts the years from the Exodus until the present, with the nation standing on the brink of the Promised Continue Reading »
