On Tuesday, July 11, 2017, the Jewish world enters the period known as “The Three Weeks,” the mourning period for the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem, which starts with a sunrise to sundown fast on 17 Tammuz and…
Jewish Calendar, 17th of Tammuz, 9 days, Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution
There is nothing mysterious about why Purim has had such a compelling hold on the psyche of the Jewish people throughout the ages. The figure of the despotic ruler (or his surrogate) who seeks to destroy us has been all-too…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Jewish Calendar, Purim, Rodef Shalom
When Persia became the dominant power in the Near East in the 6th century BCE, royal edicts allowed and even encouraged Jews to return to Israel and rebuild the Temple. Ezra and Nehemiah were two outstanding and exceptional figures who embraced…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Zionism
Amidst the plethora of laws in Parashat Mishpatim, one had completely eluded my attention until I became involved in peace and conflict studies. The scenario may seem obscure, but the applications, I realized, are wide-ranging and profound. Exodus 23:5 If…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Tanakh, Torah, Shemot (Exodus)
In this week’s parsha, the rabbis read the words in Exodus 23:2 “acharey rabim lahatot” to mean “go after the majority” (and not as they are often translated literally to be a warning to not “incline after a multitude to…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Tanakh, Torah, Shemot (Exodus)
I frequently find myself in conversation with Jews who believe that forgiveness is not a Jewish practice. “The other person has to do teshuvah (make amends) first.” “How would society enforce social norms if forgiveness were offered too quickly?” Or even, “Forgiveness is…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Pardes Center for Jewish Educators, Holidays, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Jewish Calendar
Imagine the scene. Moshe tells the entire community of Bnai Yisrael, not long after leaving Egypt and receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, to offer gifts for the construction of the desert mishkan (sanctuary). The people bring a remarkable array…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Resources for 9Adar, Tanakh, Torah
Does a book thousands of years old have any relevance to our lives? Does a tradition of ancient and medieval origins bring any new insights to a post-modern world? We find ourselves, in the cycle of the Torah readings, near the…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Balak, Critical Issues, Divrei Torah
This Shabbat, parshat Trumah, we read about the mitzvah of making the Cherubim (Exodus 25:18-20) “And you shall make two cherubim …. And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, screening the ark-cover with their wings, with their…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Tanakh, Torah, Shemot (Exodus)
Imagine the scene. Moses calls to the entire Israelite community, not long after leaving Egypt and receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, to offer gifts for the construction of the desert mishkan (sanctuary). The people bring a remarkable array of…
Critical Issues, Divrei Torah, Mahloket Matters/Conflict Resolution, Rodef Shalom, Rodef Shalom Resource, Tanakh
This dvar Torah was written for Limmud On One Leg. The blessing most loved by its recipient – we, the Jewish people – is Balaam’s “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel!” (Numbers 24:5). Commentators such…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Balak, Critical Issues, Divrei Torah
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