When God Said 鈥淣o鈥� to Moses
Feb 26, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Ki Tissa
It must have been a great comfort to Moses鈥攁nd not only a disappointment鈥攖hat God turned down his request to see God鈥檚 glory. The wind was presence enough, on top of the mountain, much of the time鈥攖he wind, and the voice in the wind. Every visit of divine speech exhausted him now. Even the words that did not demand that he do battle, climb higher, challenge Pharaoh, rebuke the Israelites yet again, or simply鈥攐n some days the hardest鈥攅ndure.
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The Family Story
Mar 20, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Shabbat Hagadol | Pesah
I asked what part of the seder you most enjoy; whether any aspect of it bothers you; which piece of the Exodus story, if any, means a lot to you personally; and how, or if, you relate to the seder as a religious ceremony. Here鈥檚 what I learned from what you told me.
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The Spirit of Jewish Leadership
Apr 23, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Emor
Two themes in this week鈥檚 Torah portion strike me with particular urgency and force: how Israelites should mourn the dead, and the qualifications required for the priesthood.
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A People Dwelling Apart
Jun 19, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Balak
Balak鈥檚 mix of poetry, narrative, and prophecy raises questions about Israel鈥檚 status as 鈥渁 people dwelling apart鈥� that are still with us today鈥攓uestions that, in my view, make Balak one of the most troubling portions in the entire Torah.
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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).
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Jacob’s Fear
Nov 13, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Vayishlah
The Torah wants us to identify with the ancestors we meet in the book of Genesis; indeed, Abraham and Sarah and their children become our ancestors when we agree not only to read their stories, but to take them forward. Abraham 鈥渂egat鈥� Isaac in one sense by supplying the seed for his conception. He 鈥渂egat鈥� him as well by shaping the life that Isaac would live, setting its direction, digging wells that his son would re-dig, making Isaac鈥檚 story infinitely more meaningful鈥攁nd terrifying鈥攂y placing him in the line of partners with God in covenant. So it is with us.
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A Dress Code for Judaism
Feb 4, 2014 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Tetzavveh
I received a valuable insight into this week鈥檚 Torah portion over lunch one day about 20 years ago at the Stanford University Humanities Center. Across the table sat a female professor from China, newly arrived on her first visit to America. I was the first Jew she had ever met, and at some point the conversation shifted from the books we were writing to how Judaism differed from other faith traditions and communities in America. That鈥檚 when she startled me with an observation I shall never forget. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be significantly different from anyone else in this country. You are dressed exactly the same as they are.鈥�
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For Millennials and Their Families
Apr 10, 2014 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Shabbat Hagadol | Pesah
I gathered six students from 91快播鈥檚 undergraduate Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies in my office last week to talk about the ways in which family dynamics add meaning鈥攁nd tension鈥攖o family Passover seders. I wanted to find out how these dynamics play out at the seders of my students, and share their insights with you here鈥攎illennials and college students, teens and tweens鈥攊n the hope that our discussion about the holiday will enrich yours.
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