Shoftim continues with Moses’ teaching about rules of governance once the children of Israel enter into the promised land. The insistence that any society created be based on justice and shun corruption by leaders and the avoidance of contamination by Canaanite culture is a central theme of Deuteronomy. F>or jurists to be fair and true […]
Torah Commentary – Re’eh
The Torah Portion Re’eh begins with God’s words as communicated by Moses. “See: I’m putting in front of you today a blessing and a curse:” (Deuteronomy 11:26)* We learn that we’ll receive God’s blessing if we listen to (and act upon) God’s commandments. We’ll be cursed if we don’t listen and allow ourselves to be […]
Episode Six: How To Emulate God
In Episode Six of The Tisch Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf invites us to join him in his weekly tisch at Har Zion Temple in Penn Valley, PA. According to Rabbi Moses Cordovero, God does not let God’s anger dictate God’s actions. So too, we must be careful not to be so overcome with anger that our […]
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NYC Jewish Tech Meetup with Micah Sifry
This month, The NYC Jewish Tech Meetup welcomed speaker Micah Sifry. Micah is the co-founder and Executive Editor of the Personal Democracy Forum and its blog TechPresident. He is a prolific author, most recently the author of WikiLeaks and the Age of Transparency. In this podcast, Sifry discusses the changes in “publishing” and the ways that technology have leveled the playing field of public communication. Syfry explores the societal affects of these changes, and discusses how this effects us all.
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A Blessing and a Curse
There is a challenge to us all found in this week’s parasha – Re’eh – it is there right from the start. Put up or shut up, says God.
“Behold, this day I set before you a blessing and a curse.” (Devarim 11:26)
We have a choice, says God – chose the right path or the wrong one. This is the reality of freedom, the idea that we constantly make decisions and that those decisions have consequences. I have been thinking a great deal about this idea in the wake of this past week’s terror attacks near Eilat.
Each and every moment of life we make decisions, and no matter how much we like to blame others for forcing us to make them – it is us in the end who acts, who does the deed. Those who snuck into Israel with the intention to kill as many as possible almost certainly blame Israel for causing their actions – but they pulled the triggers. They chose the curse.
And those who decided to respond in kind by ordering bombs dropped, those who fired across the border, those who drop their quest for a new social order, they chose too. And they also chose the curse.
Torah Commentary – Ekev
The Torah Portion, Ekev, begins with Moses teaching the children of Israel that if they listen to, observe, and do what God has commanded, they will be God’s partners in the covenant which God made with their ancestors. If they behave according to God’s laws, God will bless the children of Israel with fertility, prosperity, […]
Inspired by Pirkei Avot
For many years, my husband has studied with pre-B’nai Mitzvah students and guided them in the preparation of their D’vrei Torah. Two of his recent students expressed an interest in further text study, so my husband prepared a lesson on Pirkei Avot (The Ethics of the Fathers). As part of their exploration of this body […]
Reeh Limerick
Reeh has many themes including prohibitions against pagan worship; deliniating the holiday cycle and the importance of taking care of the stranger and those less fortunate in our midst. It also continues the Deuteronomic theme of blessings and curses. God gives a commandment this day A Blessing for those who obey But if you choose […]
Episode Five: How To Emulate God
In Episode Five of The Tisch Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf invites us to join him in his weekly tisch at Har Zion Temple in Penn Valley, PA. Rabbi Knopf is in the midst of studying Rabbi Moses Cordovero and his concept of forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays. http://media.blubrry.com/jcasttotalfeed/www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/jcastnetwork.com/storage/Tisch/005.mp3Podcast: Download
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Torah Commentary – Va-Etchannan
I have four words to introduce the Portion, Va-Etchannan – “midrash” and “back-to-school.” Let’s start by making a midrash. A midrash (plural-midrashim) is a story commentary which Rabbis throughout the ages have created to “fill in the blanks” in the Torah narrative and to answer perplexing questions which the narrative raises. In the opening lines […]
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