“Which You, O Lord, Have Given Me”
Aug 21, 2013 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), Torah now accentuates the importance of appreciation in Parashat Ki Tavo.
Read MoreThe Gift of Anxiety and Dread
Oct 8, 2011 By Marc Wolf | Commentary | Yom Kippur
About a year ago, I had a conversation with a friend in which he described the way he had experienced his life to that point. He said it felt as if he were a passenger on a train, and that being on a train meant there was a set destination and stops along the way, and absolutely no deviation from the proscribed course. It wasn’t that he was unhappy with the direction; it wasn’t that he regretted any stop he had made along the way. What bothered him was a particular moment of realization: he wasn’t sure what was driving the engines or even if he wanted to continue on that particular track.
Read MoreWork Transforming into Joy
Oct 14, 2011 By Abigail Treu | Commentary | Sukkot
In my mind’s eye, I maintain quite an idealized image of Sukkot. I imagine a beautiful sukkah, resting on a lush green lawn, surrounded by trees not quite yet at the peak of autumn. I sit with my family and friends, leisurely enjoying a delicious meal (which appears magically, costs nothing, and requires no cleanup), under a radiant blue sky during the day and a glittering canopy of stars at night. The tension between ideal and real: exactly where we should be, four days after Yom Kippur.
Read MoreThe Secret of Shmurah Matzah
Mar 25, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Pesah
One of the centerpieces of seder night is the eating of matzah, the unleavened bread.
Read MoreStoking the Perpetual Fire of Freedom
Mar 20, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shabbat Hagadol | Tzav
As we approach the festival of Passover, the domestic excitement and drama increase. This anticipation is seamlessly reflected in Parashat Tzav.
Read MoreClothing Ourselves in Sanctity
Feb 20, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Tetzavveh | Purim
Clothing offers keen insight in two complementary directions. First, the garments one wears reveals one’s personality.
Read MoreBeyond the Four Questions: Creating Fun and Meaningful Seders for Children
Mar 19, 2013 By Deborah Miller | Video Lecture | Pesah
Ever wonder how to make the seder fun and meaningful for youth and children? Join Dr. Deborah Miller as she explores the rich educational structure of the seder while giving practical tips and advice on how to keep children ages 0 to 15 engaged in this powerful ritual.
Read MoreThe Prosecuting Angel
Oct 8, 2011 By David Levy | Commentary | Yom Kippur
Leviticus 16:33
And he shall make atonement for the most holy place, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
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