Person in the Parsha: VAYASHEV

December 01, 2017

By TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“MAN PLANS, GOD LAUGHS”

You thought your life would run smoothly, right? We all do. Then, something comes off, tragic or happy, which proves to us that life is not smooth at all, and...

Off the Pulpit: Biblical Karma

December 01, 2017

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

Jacob fools his father Isaac, disguising himself as Esau and taking the blessing.

How does the Torah itself regard his action? The subtle critique can be found later on in Jacob’s story. He works for seven...

Person in the Parsha: VAYISHALAH

November 23, 2017

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“UNHERALDED HEROES”

You don’t hear much about them, and sometimes you don’t even know their names. But they are the true heroes and heroines in our lives...

Off the Pulpit: Methuselah and Me

November 23, 2017

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

Yes, I also read the health studies that advise eating this and avoiding that. I don’t always adhere to the recommendations but I follow them as if, well, as if my life depended on it.

At...

Person in the Parsha: VAYETZE

November 17, 2017

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“WHAT’S IN A NAME?”

“Who am I?” This is the most powerful question that a person ever asks himself. For many of us, there are no easy answers...

Off the Pulpit: The First Teacher

November 17, 2017

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

“From the child of five to myself is but a step,” wrote Leo Tolstoy. “But from the new-born baby to the child of five is an astonishing distance.”

Modern research validates Tolstoy’s insight. The first years...

Off the Pulpit: Decisions Shape Destiny

November 10, 2017

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

Why does the Torah so often tell the tales of siblings? From Cain and Abel, the Genesis stories and on to Moses and Aaron, we are being told something important about human nature.

Ultimately, our lives...

Person in the Parsha: TOLDOT

November 10, 2017

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“WHAT MYSTERY PERVADES A WELL!”

One of the great benefits of visiting communities where I once lived and taught is the opportunity to meet people who were my students long...

Off the Pulpit: A question of gutters

November 03, 2017

Italian writer Claudio Magris begins his magnificent work, “Danube” with a chapter called “A Question of Gutters.” Amidst his philosophical speculations and historical allusions, he reminds us that all of this great civilization would not exist without proper gutters. Metaphysics...

Person in the Parsha: CHAYEI SARAH

November 03, 2017

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“SARAH, ESTHER AND THE SLEEPY STUDENTS”

Jews live their lives within the framework of the Jewish calendar. At this time of year, we identify strongly with the narratives contained in the...