Shabbat Mishpatim/Shekalim

The expression “caught red-handed” seems to suggest the worst possible result of being a thief. After all, if someone else’s property is found in someone else’s possession without evidence of a legal transaction, the “someone else” has some explaining to …

Shabbat Yitro 5772

Whether it is in our search for a mate, an employee, a job, or an elected official, we begin with an ideal set of criteria. Usually, that list is wholly unreasonable. Even in the lab it would be difficult …

Shabbat Beshalah 5772

How long do you keep canned or jarred goods in your pantry? That’s where we keep the non-perishables, and were it not for Pesah cleaning, some of those food items might be older than we are. But we’re generally inclined …

Shabbat Bo: January 28, 2012/4 Shevat 5772

Parashat Bo is a favorite of Jewish educators. Three times we see instructions about giving instructions: Exodus 12:26-27, 13:8, and 13:14. In the first and third of the passages, it is expected that a child will prompt the lesson by …

Shabbat Vaera 5772

Like many other Jews, I had an Uncle Chaim who was a baker. He was from the Old Country, and because of his exalted place in our family (and probably because of his vocation, too), he had a standard job …

January 14 2012/19 Tevet 5772 Shabbat Shemot

It doesn’t take us long to get to know Moshe. In the very first episode we read of his adult life, we see he’s an activist. He’s not afraid to insert himself into a situation when he sees injustice. His …

January 7 2012/12 Tevet 5772 Shabbat Vayehi

This space is usually my medium for getting readers to think about an issue that emerges from the coming Shabbat’s Torah reading. We then continue the conversation during my Dvar Torah in shul on Shabbat morning. But this week, since …

December 17 2011/21 Kislev 5772 Shabbat Vayeshev

As if we haven’t seen enough of this throughout the book of Bereshit, our parashah this week includes another episode of favoritism. “VeYisrael ahav et Yosef mikol banav–Now Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons” (Genesis …

December 10 2011/14 Kislev 5772 Shabbat Vayishlah

The moment of truth is upon him. After 20 years of estrangement, Ya’akov cannot run from Esav any longer. Esav is headed directly for him, with a band of 400 ostensibly armed men. So Ya’akov divides his camp, giving one …

Shabbat Miketz/Hanukkah 5772

December 24 2011/28 Kislev 5772

We tell two very different stories about Hanukkah. In one, the courageous Maccabees are the heroes, seizing their destiny by one hand with sword in the other. In another version, God is the Rescuer, providing …