Category: 5783
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Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5783: “Today”
When David Ben Gurion made his first state visit to the United States as prime minister of Israel he gave a speech about the power of Jewish memory. How many Americans, he asked, know what day…
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Ki Teitzei 5783: “The Place He Shall Choose”
Where can God be found? Perhaps the most comprehensive and famous answer given to that question was formulated by the 20th century Jewish philosopher, Uncle Moishy, who declared, “Hashem is here. Hashem is there. Hashem is…
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Shoftim 5783: “Community Standards”
About eighteen months ago a small boutique bakery opened steps away from the shul where I worked at the time. I thought it would be a perfect win-win opportunity if the bakery would agree to kosher…
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Eikev 5773: “Underfoot Mitzvot”
If you were approached without warning and asked to name “the most important mitzvah” what would you answer? This morning I want to suggest that the most important mitzvah is the one you do not yet…
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Va’Etchanan 5783: “That is Your Wisdom and Understanding”
This week was my first “holiday” week at Ohev Sholom. Because the “holiday” in question was Tisha b’Av, I didn’t have to worry about cooking a big holiday meal, but preparing for Tisha b’Av was stll…
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Matot-Ma’asei 5783: “Finding Equilibrium”
One of the techniques used by television writers to build excitement as a TV series reaches its grand finale is to bring back characters from earlier episodes for cameo appearances in the final episode. This resolves…
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Hukkat-Balak 5783: “Transitions”
One of my favorite rabbinic jokes is particularly appropriate for a Shabbat such as this one. I first shared it publicly ten years ago, I shared it again a few weeks ago, and I’m going to…
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Baha’alotcha 5783: “Crisis & Insight”
While packing up our apartment last week I found these handwritten notes which are my father’s notes from the speech he delivered at my bar mitzvah. I don’t remember much of the speech itself because, as…
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Emor 5783: “Crimes & Context”
On April 15th, 1936, a group of Palestinian insurgents loyal to Izz Ad-Din al-Qassam, shot and killed two Jewish motorists on the road between Nablus and Tulkaram. Days later two Palestinian laborers were shot and killed…
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Bo 5783: “Negotiating In Good Faith & Bad”
There are two great movie versions of the story of Yetziat Mitzraim, the exodus from Egypt: Steven Spielberg’s Prince of Egypt and Cecille B. Demille’s The Ten Commandments. Both draw heavily from midrashim to flesh out…
Rabbi David Wolkenfeld 