WUPJ Library
Torah from around the world #132
By Rabbi Mark H. Levin, DHL, Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park, Kansas Atem Nitzavim is read twice in the annual Torah reading cycle in Reform congregations: in its proper place in the order of weekly portions and again, in part, on Yom Kippur morning. The parashah opens with the famous spiritual/historical promise that all Israel […]
Torah from around the world #82
by Rabbi Grisha Abramovich, Rabbi of the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in the Republic of Belarus Perhaps one of the tasks of our weekly Parasha – Nitzavim-Vayelech – is to show the accessibility of the Torah. At the beginning of the chapter we read that everyone, including Jews of different classes and occupations, women and […]
Torah from around the world #31
by Ra bbi Dr. Walter Rothschild; Landesrabbiner for Schleswig-Holstein , Germany ; Rabbi of Or Chadasch , Vienna , Austria .
Torah from Around the World #343
Recent Issues By: Rabbi Peter Knobel, Rabbi Emeritus of Beth Emet the Free Synagogue, Evanston, Illinois, USA The Blessing and the Curse Ki Tavo is a very challenging Torah portion. Theologically it conditions blessing and curses to the faithful observance of the Divine commands. The fate of the people is directly related to their behavior. […]
Torah from Around the World #288
Recent Issues By: Rabbi Fred Morgan AM, Emeritus Rabbi, Temple Beth Israel , Melbourne, Australia The portion Ki Tavo concludes Moses’ discourse to the people Israel with a set of blessings and curses, the consequences of their actions in following or rejecting God’s commands. Jewish tradition has never felt comfortable with these tokhachot , or […]
Torah from Around the World #181
by Rabbi Jordi Gendra, Temple Beth Shalom of Greater Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg PA “ And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, “These shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to bless the people when ye have come over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. And these shall stand upon […]
Torah from around the world #131
by Rabbi Steve Burnstein, Director, Anita Saltz International Education Center , Jerusalem A couple of weeks ago I had the great pleasure of spending a morning with a delightful group of young adults who were in Israel on a seminar of Jung and Jüdisch (Young and Jewish). Young and Jewish is the German affiliate of […]
Torah from around the world #81
by Rabbi Ferenc Raj, PhD, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Beth El , Berkeley, CA, USA, and founding Rabbi, Congregation Bet Orim , Budapest, Hungary Perhaps the most recognized part of the Torah portion Ki Tavo is the long list of divine blessings and the even longer list of curses, or using the traditionally accepted term for […]
Torah from Around the World #342
Recent Issues By: Rabbi Rene Pfertzel, The Liberal Jewish Synagogue , London, UK While we were reading the commandment to honour one’s parents in the Decalogue, a Bar-Mitzvah boy told me: “I have a problem with this text. I am not sure if I love my parents”. A teenager’s love for parents is somehow complicated, […]
Torah from around the world #29
by Rabbi Burt E. Schuman, Senior Rabbi, Beit Warszawa , Warszawa Our Torah portion for this week, Parashat Ki Tavo, begins with two rituals incumbent upon the Israelites when they have settled in the land of Israel, rituals of Thanksgiving and of tithing described in Chapter 26, Verses 1-19. These rituals that reflect not only […]
Torah from Around the World #287
Recent Issues By: Rabbi Neal I Borovitz, Rabbi Emeritus Temple Avodat Shalom , River Edge, NJ This week’s Torah reading is called Ki Teitzei. It begins the verse ” When you go out to war ” and speaks of the limitations of conquest, but goes on to include according to Maimonides, the great Medieval Torah […]
Torah from Around the World #180
by Rabbi Aaron C. Meyer, Assistant Rabbi, Temple De Hirsch Sinai , Seattle, WA “We must begin with our in-laws,” he announced to a lecture hall packed with a broad cross-section of the Seattle, Washington Jewish community. Jews in felt kippot and long dresses sat beside those who were bare-headed and wearing tank tops in […]