JTS Torah Archive

From Reflection to Appreciation

Sep 12, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Ki Tavo

Having underscored the role of memory at the conclusion of last week’s parashah (remembering the cruelty of Amalek), the Torah now accentuates the importance of appreciation in Parashat Ki Tavo.

Reflective Learning in the Season of Teshuvah

Sep 12, 2014 By Jason Gitlin | Commentary | Ki Tavo

While the formal Hebrew title for each book of Torah is today derived from a word in its first verse, the Rabbis regularly employed a different logic: use a name that captured the book’s main theme.

Approaching The King

Sep 9, 2014 By Nancy Abramson | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Our Effect On Eternity

Sep 9, 2014 By Anne Lapidus Lerner | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah

Brothers: Isaac And Ishmael

Sep 9, 2014 By Burton L. Visotzky | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah

The Artist As Teacher

Sep 9, 2014 By David C. Kraemer | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

Explore the Esslingen Mahzor

The Gift Of Community

Sep 9, 2014 By Joel Alter | Short Video | Yom Kippur

The Origins Of Avinu Malkenu

Sep 9, 2014 By Judith Hauptman | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

The Potter Loves The Clay

Sep 9, 2014 By Lilly Kaufman | Short Video | Yom Kippur

God Of Mercy, God Of Justice

Sep 9, 2014 By Daniel Nevins | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

A Holiday For God Or For Us?

Sep 9, 2014 By | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah

A Time to Grieve

Sep 5, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

As the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold and war is waged against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), we turn our soul’s attention to Parashat Ki Tetzei.

Dependent? Yes, but on Whom?

Aug 29, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shofetim

The Cairo Genizah, a rich treasure trove of Jewish history (60,000 fragments of this repository are housed in The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary) rediscovered by Solomon Schechter toward the end of the 19th century, attests to the rich Jewish life that flourished in Egypt and beyond.

Who’s Judging?

Aug 29, 2014 By Danielle Upbin | Commentary | Shofetim

In the opening verses of our Torah portion, the Israelites are commanded to establish a fair, impartial, and moral judicial system upon settling the Land of Israel.

Lessons of Idolatry

Aug 22, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Re'eh

Parashat Re’eh looks forward to the entry of the Israelites into the Land.

How to Practice Faith

Aug 22, 2014 By Daniel Nevins | Commentary | Re'eh

Watch a world-class athlete do something extraordinary, like somersault and twist through the air from a high diving platform or serve a tennis ball so fast down the line that it seems fired by a cannon.

Waters of Uncertainty

Aug 15, 2014 By Alisa Braun | Commentary | Eikev

“If it doesn’t rain, we don’t know what’s going to happen,” commented a NASA water-cycle scientist recently on the drought that has been devastating California.

Taking Responsibility for the Land

Aug 15, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Eikev

Parashat Eikev deals heavily with the theme of entering and securing the Land of Israel.

The Comfort of Prayer

Aug 8, 2014 By Jan Uhrbach | Commentary | Va'et-hannan

Parashat Va’et-hannan contains some of the most inspiring and sweepingly grand passages in the entire Torah, and some of the best known, including the Ten Commandments and the first paragraph of the Shema.

Humility: God Is Above and Below

Aug 8, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Va'et-hannan

Parashat Va’et-hannan, the second Torah reading of the book of Deuteronomy, places much of its emphasis on the loyal observance of mitzvot, God’s commandments.