Category Archives: Torah
Gratitude Beyond Measure
These things have no fixed measure: the corner of the field, the first fruit offering, the pilgrim’s offering, acts of generosity, and Torah study. Rooted in the life of an agricultural community, the Mishnah extols life grounded in the soil—in … Continue reading
Posted in Mishnah, Poetry, Torah
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We Are The Text
Since ancient times, a ritually prescribed Torah reading—a parasha— has been known by a title taken from the prescribed opening biblical verse. In addition to its conventional designation, some sages have given us the precedent of calling a parasha by … Continue reading
Posted in Midrash, Parshat HaShavuah, Torah
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Truth Will Spring Up
The first few weeks in quarantine were not too difficult. For one thing, we had just returned from Israel and we were tired—and frightened. For another thing, the world seemed painted in pandemic colors and moods: grey and foreboding. But … Continue reading
Posted in Midrash, Poetry, Talmud, Torah
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Everything Will Not Be Alright
This is how you shall eat your Passover offering: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it b’hippazon (Exodus 12:11)—in hurried, harried, anxious haste. Everything will not be alright … Continue reading
“I” Witness – The Song At The Sea
A fierce wind plowed the sea, piling a wall of water to either side of a seabed blown dry. Miraculously, there was stable footing for weary slaves—notwithstanding the wind that the sea itself could not withstand. Wind, walls of water, … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Parshat HaShavuah, Passover, Poetry, Torah
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Hesed Is The Prayer And The Answer
When Sarah died at the age of 127, Abraham’s family lost its hesed, the caring, steadfast acts that connect people and sustain the world. Sarah’s hesed was unfailing, even in difficult times. Let this be your hesed to me, Abraham … Continue reading
Posted in Blessing, Parshat HaShavuah, Poetry, Torah
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Heroes Who Limp
Jacob’s midnight assailant was surprised at his adversary’s great strength. He wondered if Jacob might be an angel like himself. Angels have no leg joints, the midrash teaches, so he touched Jacob at the hip to determine whether his opponent’s … Continue reading
Naming The Unimaginable
At the harrowing end, a ram replaced Yitzhak as the sacrifice; a narrow escape that came only after two divine interventions to divert father Abraham from his unimaginable mission. Generations of rabbinic storytellers imagined even narrower escapes for Yitzhak, placing … Continue reading
Posted in Midrash, Names, Parshat HaShavuah, Poetry, Torah
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Believe it—And Not
Noah was lacking in belief, taught the 3rd century teacher, Rabbi Yohanan. If not for the water reaching his ankles, he would not have entered the ark. Lacking in belief? Noah, who fulfilled the twin tasks of building the great … Continue reading
Posted in Midrash, Parshat HaShavuah, Torah
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Steps, Blessed Be They
God is steps, declared Yehuda Amichai. Such an outright assertion about God was unusual for the great Israeli poet. He was fond of similes that invited listeners closer to the mystery without violating the distance that mystery needs. Among his … Continue reading
