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torah commentary
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Broken promises addressed by Torah
Naso, Numbers 4:21-7:89 Parsha Naso is interesting. While a great deal of the sedra refers to its name, identifying the offerings and count of the leaders of each tribe, or nasiam, there are iso...
May 17, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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Our firstborn no longer belong to God
Bamidbar, Numbers 1:1-4:20 Once upon a time, a long time ago, every firstborn belonged to God. We were always supposed to give the first of all “our fruits” to God, literally. Now, let’s go way b...
May 09, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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<i>Rabbi Aaron Bisno</i>
Shabbat as a utopian ideal
Behar-Behukotai, Leviticus 25:1-27:34 This week’s Torah reading is drawn from a double portion, Behar-Behukotai. Behar is associated with the laws of sabbatical; that is, we are instructed to al...
May 02, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend
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<i>Rabbi Scott Aaron</i>
You kiss your mother with that mouth? Blasphemy then and now
Parshat Emor, Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 This week’s portion ends with a troubling story of blasphemy, social isolation and death.  (I know … a lot of our Torah portions have troubling stories of bla...
Apr 25, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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<i>Rabbi James Gibson</i>
‘Can’t we all just get along?’
Achare Mot–Kedoshim, Leviticus 16:1-20:27 Those famous words, “Can’t we all just get along?” were plaintively said by Rodney King, whose beating at the hands of the Los Angeles Police more than ...
Apr 18, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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<i>Rabbi Joe Hample</i>
Getting it together
Tazria-Metzora, Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Just between you and me, I feel a lot of ambivalence.  I’m full of faith and doubt, calm and stress, gloom and hope.  I’m an introverted extrovert, a sloppy p...
Apr 10, 2013 | 1 1 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend
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Archives
Justice, liberty, whatever: Torah for every occasion
Bereshit, Genesis 1:1-6:8
by Rabbi Stephen Listfield
Tree of Life Congregation
Oct 16, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend
A guest article appeared in this newspaper a month and a half ago, following the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy. The author is a rabbinic leader based in New York City, and the article was syndicated...
Don’t forget the eighth day
by Rabbi Stephanie Wolfe
Beth Samuel Jewish Center, Ambridge
Oct 08, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend
This Shabbat is the last in a series coinciding with the holidays of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. As we reach this weekend, some of us begin to breathe a sigh of relief that our lives may be a litt...
There’s no joy on Sukkot without outreach to the needy
by Rabbi Michael Werbow
Congregation Beth Shalom
Oct 01, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend
Sukkot is the celebration that comes after the more contemplative and self-reflecting holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are over. We take Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur so seriously. We certai...
Shuvah: Returning body and soul
by Cantor Richard Berlin
Spiritual Leader Parkway Jewish Center
Sep 24, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend
Ha’azinu, Shabbat Shuvah Deuteronomy 32:1 - 32:47 Moses begins parashat Ha’azinu saying “Give ear, O heavens, let me speak.” The poetry sings of Moses’ faith in God and his dire view of the conse...
Life is a journey, a sacred pilgrimage
by Rabbi Sharyn Henry
Rodef Shalom Congregation
Sep 17, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 15 15 recommendations | email to a friend
At Rosh Hashana, we begin a new journey — a journey into the new year of 5770. Even as we look ahead to what we hope the New Year will bring, we set aside some time to look back on the last year. T...
Make each day a new beginning
by Rabbi Barbara Symons
Temple David, Monroeville
Sep 10, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 8 8 recommendations | email to a friend
Nitzavim, Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30 In Moses’ final oration, found in Nitzavim, he closes ranks by opening possibilities. The covenant is not only made with those standing there that day, but, it i...
Gratitude starts with the right attitude
by Rabbi Michael Werbow
Congregation Beth Shalom
Sep 03, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend
Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 When one goes to someone else’s home it is not uncommon to bring a small token of thanks. This may be in the form of a bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers or a cof...
Hell is the hate in their hearts
by Rabbi Mark Joel Mahler
Temple Emanuel of South Hills
Aug 27, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend
Enemies encircle our Torah portion, Ki Tetzei. As Ki Tetzei begins, a Jewish warrior has taken a woman captive in war. To this day, one of the disturbing spoils of war is the captive woman, an easy...
Let freedom ring
by Rabbi Amy B. Hertz
Rodef Shalom Congregation
Aug 20, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend
Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 On a recent trip to Philadelphia, I found myself standing in line with a group of tourists from another country waiting my turn to catch a glimpse of the famous Lib...
Re’eh, Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
by Rabbi Ron Symons
Temple Sinai
Aug 14, 2009 | 0 0 comments | 15 15 recommendations | email to a friend
This weeks’ Torah portion, Re’eh, provides us with a prototype of blessings and curses. “When Adonai, your God, brings you to the land which you come to inherit, you shall declare the blessing towa...