And Moses Went Out to His Brothers...

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by Dr. Robert Wexler
posted on April 15, 2022
The Torah provides very little detail about the early life of Moses. In the first ten verses of Exodus, chapter 2, we quickly learn that he was born to Hebrew parents, was saved from death by the ingenuity and courage of his mother and sister, and was adopted by the daughter of Pharoah who raised him as her son. Read more...

The Miracle of Purim

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by Dr. Michael Berenbaum
posted on March 15, 2022
Purim is a joyous holiday. Children get dressed up in costumes, they get to jeer the name of Haman and make noise on their noisemakers. Adults get to eat and drink, religious restrictions are few, the preparations are minimal. What is there not to enjoy? Read more...

A Personal Reflection on America

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by Rabbi Elliot Dorff, PhD
posted on February 21, 2022
Presidents’ Day evokes thoughts not only about our current and past Presidents, but also about our ties to the United States itself. We do that also, of course, on Independence Day, but the celebrations on that day are totally upbeat, and maybe rightly so: after all, we are then marking the birth of our nation, and birthdays are a time for celebration, not an evaluation of the life of the person or nation whose birthday is being commemorated. Read more...

For Whom Do You Plant?

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by Rabbi Ben Richards
posted on January 17, 2022
There’s a terrific story for Tu Bishvat: An older man is planting saplings when he’s encountered by an important individual who asks him why he is planting. Will he live to see the literal fruits of his labors? The reply: “If I’m worthy, I will eat, and if not, my children will.” Read more...

Are We Still Marching with King and Heschel? Thoughts on Parshat Beshalach and Martin Luther King Day

Headshot of Rabbi Aryeh Cohen
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by Rabbi Aryeh Cohen
posted on January 17, 2022
It is well known that on the night before he was assassinated, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. seemed to prophecy his own death. “I might not get there with you,”  he said to the crowd of striking sanitation workers, and supporters, and ministers that came to see him. He was talking about the Promised Land. He was talking about freedom and equality. King was talking about justice. He did not get there with them, with us. Read more...