91快播

Confronting Our 鈥淐oncealed Things鈥�

Sep 23, 2022 By Gordon Tucker | Commentary | Nitzavim | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

The concealed things concern the Lord our God; but with overt matters, it is for us and our children ever to apply all the provisions of this Teaching. (Deut. 29:28)
There is, however, another reading of this verse, given by Nahmanides (Ramban), in the 13th century, and it is one that forces us to a certain deeper level of introspection at this time of year.

Here鈥檚 a paraphrase of what he says: The 鈥渃oncealed things鈥� are not sins committed by others that are out of our view, and thus out of our control. Rather, they are the sins committed by us, but that are nevertheless out of our view and awareness. As long as we are not aware of them, they will be known only to God. But they are only out of our control because they are not known to us.

Count Your Blessings

Sep 16, 2022 By Burton L. Visotzky | Commentary | Ki Tavo

Ki Tavo is a Torah portion with three parts of interest. First, there are the curses and imprecations with which God threatens the Jewish people if we do not do God鈥檚 will. As we do when we read the Torah in synagogue, we will quickly and quietly move past the scary stuff.

Second, we are commanded to bring our first fruits to the Jerusalem Temple once we have settled the land. And then we are commanded to offer them to the priest in acknowledgement of God鈥檚 beneficence. When we do so, we recite a fixed liturgy, reinforced, no doubt, by hearing the many Israelites ahead of us in the line reciting the exact same words as the priest prompts them. 鈥淩epeat after me . . .鈥� he says.
Arami oved avi鈥擬y ancestor was a wandering Aramean.鈥� (Deut. 26:5)

What Does the Torah Really Say about Cross-Dressing?

Sep 9, 2022 By Joy Ladin | Commentary | Ki Tetzei

Every year, Ki Tetzei returns us to the only verse of the Torah that seems to speak about transgender and nonbinary people, particularly about those like me who used to be known as 鈥渢ranssexuals,鈥� people born physically male or female who identify so strongly with the opposite gender that we can only live authentically as that gender: A woman must not put on man鈥檚 apparel, nor shall a man wear woman鈥檚 clothing; for whoever does these things is abhorrent to your God. (Num. 22:5)

Prophets of Faith

Sep 2, 2022 By Amy Kalmanofsky | Commentary | Shofetim

I often distinguish between faith and belief and consider myself to be a person of faith. Whereasbeliefimplies a degree of certainty that I am uncomfortable with,faithembraces doubt. To my ear, the statement that Ibelievesomething to be true communicates that youknowsomething is true. The statement that I havefaiththat something is true suggests that youdesireorsuspectsomething is true. Belief seems restrictive to me鈥攃onfined by only what is known or can be known鈥攁nd is at risk of dogmatism.

The Meaning of Repetition, Repetition

Aug 26, 2022 By David Zev Moster | Commentary | Re'eh | Shabbat Rosh Hodesh

When it comes to reading the Tanakh, much is lost in translation, so even a bit of knowledge of Biblical Hebrew can go a long way. Here is one grammatical insight into this week鈥檚 parashah, Parashat Re鈥檈h. According to Deuteronomy 14:22, Israelite farmers must tithe the produce of their field 砖指讈谞指讛 砖指讈谞指讛, shanah shanah, which […]

Raising Children in a Land of Plenty

Aug 19, 2022 By Gavriella Kornsgold | Commentary | Eikev

The book of Hosea captures the problem of human nature in Parashat Eikev when God proclaims, 鈥淚 did know you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they were fed, they became full; they were filled and their heart was exalted; therefore they have forgotten me鈥� (Hos. 13:5鈥�6). There are endless historical and contemporary examples that mirror this cycle, such as the immigrant parent who achieves worldly success and becomes worried about the spiritual well-being of their children. Or, to take a scene from popular culture, after the beloved Rocky wins the heavyweight boxing title, he succumbs to the lure of fame, spoils his child, and loses his edge鈥攖he eye of the tiger. A close reading of chapter eight in this week’s parashah teaches us how our tradition responds to the perennial problem of raising children in a land of plenty.

Never Too Late to Get Close

Aug 12, 2022 By Benjy Forester | Commentary | Va'et-hannan

From a young age, I knew I was supposed to like Neil Young. The stereo was turned up whenever his signature falsetto voice came on the radio, and before my bar mitzvah I was taken to see the 2006 documentary concert/film Neil Young: Heart of Gold. My initiation was complete with my first Neil concert […]

Moses鈥檚 Retirement Speech

Aug 5, 2022 By Raymond Scheindlin | Commentary | Devarim

Deuteronomy, which we begin reading this week, is devoted to Moses鈥檚 farewell to his people. Deuteronomy is preeminently Moses鈥檚 book; in it, Moses mostly speaks in his own voice, so that instead of the ever-recurring third-person opening line 鈥淎nd the Lord spoke to Moses . . .,鈥� we read 鈥淭he Lord spoke to me鈥� (Deut. 2:2). Deuteronomy contains not one but a series of farewell speeches and prophetic poems in which Moses recalls the forty years since the Exodus from Egypt and looks ahead to the future in the promised land.