Search Results

Back to 91快播 Torah Online's Main page

Mastery = Harmony

Sep 22, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Bereishit

This coming Shabbat, we return to the beginning of Torah with Parashat Bereishit.

The Fruits of Close Reading

Sep 16, 2013 By Robert Harris | Commentary | Sukkot

鈥淚n order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Eg测辫迟鈥�&苍产蝉辫;(Lev. 23:43).

Welcome Guests鈥擵isible and . . .

Sep 16, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Sukkot

The sukkah is fragile and temporary, yet stands as a symbol of joy and celebration. Rabbi Reuven Hammer, in his commentary Or Hadash (Siddur Sim Shalom, 331), reminds us of a debate about the meaning of Leviticus 23:43 (鈥淵ou shall live in Sukkot for seven days . . . in order that future generations will recall that I made the Israelite People dwell in Sukkot when I brought them out of Egypt鈥�): 鈥淩abbi Eliezer said that [these sukkot] were clouds of glory and Rabbi Akiba said they were actual huts (B. Sukkah 11b).鈥�

The Ritual of Waters

Sep 16, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Sukkot

The festival of Sukkot is known as Z鈥檓an Simhateinu, the time of our rejoicing.

Taking What Isn鈥檛 Ours

Sep 11, 2013 By Daniel Nevins | Commentary | Yom Kippur

It鈥檚 not literally a skeleton in my closet, but I was still upset to find it hanging there.

Ne鈥榠lah: Final Closing, or Not Quite?

Sep 11, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Yom Kippur

鈥�P鈥檛ach lanu sha鈥檃r鈥� (Keep open the gate for us) are the words of a fragment of a piyyut attributed to Elazar Kallir (6th century, Land of Israel) [see the Rabbinical Assembly鈥檚 Mahzor Lev Shalem, 414].

The Discipline of Atonement

Sep 11, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Yom Kippur

This coming Shabbat culminates the period of aseret yamei teshuvah, the ten days of repentance, as we commemorate Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

It鈥檚 All Torah

Sep 3, 2013 By Danielle Upbin | Commentary | Ha'azinu

Years ago, when I was a student living in the mystical city of Safed in Israel鈥檚 Northern District, a teacher of mine asked our group of young seekers, 鈥淲hat is the most important book in your life?鈥�

Zichronot (Memories)

Sep 3, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Rosh Hashanah

In the three great themes of Rosh Hashanah, the encounter with memories (zichronot) is nestled between the power of sovereignty (malchuyot) and the triumphant, enigmatic sound of the shofar (shofarot). Zichronot reminds us that each of us is remembered, that our acts are significant, that we come, each of us individually, into the divine presence. In spite of the massive processing power of our machines, there are problems that cannot be solved鈥攅ven if every computer on earth were to be harnessed in parallel.

Finding God and Ourselves Anew

During the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we devote ourselves to the process of repentance, attempting to tip the balance in our favor as we approach the Day of Atonement.

To What Shall We Return?

Aug 28, 2013 By Lisa Gelber | Commentary | Nitzavim | Vayeilekh

As we engage in teshuvah, (re)turning to the deep, soulful place hidden beneath the barriers we erect for others and ourselves, we must ask ourselves to what we are returning and how that relocation will manifest itself in our lives.

Selichot: Body, Soul . . . 鈥淲ill You Hear My Voice?鈥�

Aug 28, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

This coming Saturday night in (Ashkenazi) synagogues around the world, congregations gather for the beginning of Selichot, the prayers and poems that inspire and guide us to seek forgiveness. Many of us will spend hours in the coming weeks turning through pages of ancient (and modern) words, hearing melodies and chants that have served so well as the pathway for the journey of the soul.

Moving Forward Meaningfully

The parashiyot of Nitzavim鈥揤ayeilekh are intimately woven into the rhythm of the liturgical year as they are typically read either immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah or during the intervening Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Blessing and Curse

Aug 21, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Ki Tavo

This week鈥檚 portion contains some of the highest highs and lowest lows in the entire Torah鈥攐r in any other work of literature, for that matter. At the start of the parashah, Israelites in the wilderness are asked to picture what it will be like to testify, from inside the Land of Israel, that they have seen God鈥檚 promises of blessing fulfilled. At the end of the parashah, those same Israelites are subjected to 54 verses of terrifying curses detailing the punishments awaiting them 鈥渋f you fail to observe faithfully all the terms of this Teaching鈥� (Deut. 28:58).

鈥淲hich You, O Lord, Have Given Me鈥�

Aug 21, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Ki Tavo

Having underscored the role of memory at the conclusion of last week鈥檚 parashah (remembering the cruelty of Amalek), Torah now accentuates the importance of appreciation in Parashat Ki Tavo.

We Have Met the Enemy, and the Enemy Is Us

Aug 14, 2013 By Marc Gary | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

How does war affect the human soul? Our Torah portion, Ki Tetzei, begins with a verse that raises these issues in a stark and discomfiting manner.

鈥淣o鈥檃m Adonai鈥� (the Beauty of Adonai): Psalm 27 and Elul

Aug 14, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

鈥�[L]ahazot beno鈥檃m Adonai ul鈥檝aker b鈥檋eychalo鈥� (To gaze upon the beauty of Adonai, and to visit in God鈥檚 sanctuary) [Ps. 27:4]d

Ethics of War

Aug 14, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

Parashat Ki Tetzei opens by teaching one of the biblical ordinances related to ethical conduct in war.

Roads to Nonviolence

Aug 7, 2013 By Ofra Arieli Backenroth | Commentary | Shofetim

Is there a way to wage war in a humane way?

Healing of Body and Soul (Part 2)

Aug 7, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary

If an anthropology student from the University of Mars were to attend a Shabbat morning service in an American Jewish synagogue, what kind of understanding about our real synagogue lives might emerge in the student鈥檚 term paper on the topic? The essay might suggest that announcements and kiddush are the most important parts of the experience because that is when the most people are present. The Martian professor (whose appearance we will not explore here) might urge the student to be more subtle and to observe closely the body language of the human participants to discern which parts of the service are most engaging and important to those present.

Pages:
Less
47
48
49
50
51
More

Reset Search

SUBSCRIBE TO TORAH FROM 91快播

Our regular commentaries and videos are a great way to stay intellectually and spiritually engaged with Jewish thought and wisdom.

91快播 Torah Commentary

Search Results

SUBSCRIBE TO TORAH FROM 91快播