This week's parashah, Vayera, presents us with some of the most dramatic moments in our tradition: Abraham's legendary hospitality welcoming three strangers, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Akedah (the binding of Isaac). Yet amid these weighty narratives, we encounter somethin…
This week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha, begins with one of the most transformative commands in Jewish history: "Lech lecha… Go forth from your land, your birthplace, your father's house, to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). But Abraham doesn't journey alone. The very next messa…
I start this week’s narrative with a thank you to everyone who shared an email, phone call, or text message, including those who posted on our social media profiles in recognition of the honor I received earlier this week being named a Top 30 Nonprofit CEO by The Community Foundation of So…
At the dawn of existence, the Torah presents us with a profound paradox. Before Gd utters the first creative decree, we find darkness: "The earth was unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep" (Genesis 1:2). Only then does Gd declare, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3).
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The Torah commands us regarding Sukkot: "You shall rejoice in your festival" (Deuteronomy 16:14). Not simply observe it, not merely acknowledge it, but rejoice in it. This is our only holiday explicitly called "Zman Simchateinu," the Season of Our Joy. Yet for many American Jews, Sukkot beco…
