Category: 5785
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Re’eh 5785: Transcendence and Joy
Rabbi Berel Wein, who died last Shabbat at the age of 91, was one of the longest serving rabbis of our time; his career spanned over sixty years. In addition to decades of service as a…
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Ekev 5785: A Second Telling of a Second Chance
Einstein is frequently credited with the observation that the very definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. The authoritative collection of Einstein quotes published by Princeton University Press…
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Devarim 5785: Why Do We Fast?
There are a handful of Talmudic passages that have become popular Jewish song lyrics. Which of course causes me to ponder all of those lines in the Talmud that have not become Jewish song lyrics. As…
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Pinhas 5785: Audacious Humility
Imposing limits is a Divine power. One of the names of God, Shadai, is understood to refer to God’s role in creation as the One who said “dai” – “enough” to hem in the waters above…
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Korach 5785: Fighting Fire with Almond Branches
The week before last I made visits to two different shivah homes and officiated at a funeral. That sort of schedule is not typical but neither is it very unusual and I think most rabbis have…
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Shelach 5785: How Can We Be Safe?
As parents one learns to anticipate certain questions from our children. There are other questions which surprise us. Many years ago, one of my children asked me “Was Napoleon a ‘Good Guy?” I was not entirely…
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Baha’alotcha 5785: The Only Certainty is Uncertainty
There are words that I know from Talmudic discourse which are really helpful. I wish they had simple English translations. How do you say “kal va’homer” in English? A kal va’homer is a logical inference known…
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Emor 5785: Perpetually Lighting
In a few weeks I am going to spend the day in New York to attend the graduation ceremony of Yeshivat Maharat. Members of this community are graduating. Two women who interned with me are graduating.…
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Tazria Metzora 5785: Too Soon to Tell
There are several stories of witty exchanges between western journalists and eastern political leaders. My favorite example is when Gandhi was asked what his opinion was of western civilization, “Mr. Gandhi, what is your opinion of…
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Shimini 5785: Big Tents and Open Tents
One of the most powerful metaphors used in both communal life and politics is the “big tent.” It evokes gracious hospitality and open-hearted tolerance. Who does not want to be a host in a big tent…
Rabbi David Wolkenfeld 