Person in the Parsha: Bo

January 20, 2023

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“TELL ME A STORY”

Since back in early autumn, when we began reading the Book of Genesis in the synagogue, we have been reading one long story. It has...

Off the Pulpit: What’s in a name?

January 20, 2023

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

When God approaches Moses at the burning bush, Moses is very reluctant to go to the people. He asks God “When I come to the Israelites and say, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to...

Person in the Parsha: Va’era

January 13, 2023

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS”

“They don’t make them the way they used to.” We have all heard this comment with reference to all sorts of things, usually tools and utensils. Despite all...

Off the Pulpit: The Prayer of Natural Beauty

January 13, 2023

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

In his later years, the renowned Rabbi, Samson Raphael Hirsch, suddenly announced that he was going to Switzerland to climb in the Alps. “Why?” asked his astonished students. “Because when I come face to face with...

Person in the Parsha: Shemot

January 06, 2023

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“SPIRITUAL TIME MANAGEMENT”

The two old men couldn’t have been more different from each other. Yet they both taught me the identical life lesson.

The first, a...

Off the Pulpit: Pollination

January 06, 2023

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

There are plants in Hawaii that are endangered because their natural pollinator is rare or extinct. People climb mountains and go from plant to plant pollinating them by hand.

In certain periods of our history,...

Person in the Parsha: Vayechi

December 30, 2022

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“THE YOKE’S ON US”

We all have received blessings at one time or another. We have certainly received compliments. Over the course of time, we learn that sometimes the...

Off the Pulpit: How We See Others

December 30, 2022

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

The ability to see flaws is both innate and easy; the crack or stain presents itself to our eye. The ability to see virtue is less easy, but practicing a vision of merit in others can change...

Person in the Parsha: Vayigash

December 23, 2022

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“RECONCILIATION”

I have known more than my share of families that are torn by discord. I think most of us, perhaps even all of us, are familiar with families...

Off the Pulpit: The Talmud on Mental Health

December 23, 2022

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

The Talmud writes of the compensation due to one who is injured: “One who injures another is liable to pay compensation for that injury due to five types of indemnity: He must pay for damage, for...