Parashat Ha’azinu (Listen) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 32:1-52 Haftarah: Hosea 14:2-10, Joel 2:11-27 This Shabbat is a special Shabbat called “Shabbat Shuvah” (return) or “Teshuva” (To return). It occurs during the 10 days of Teshuva – also … Read More
Messiah & Rosh Hashanah
Shabbat Rosh Hashanah Parashah: Beresheet (Genesis) 21:1-34 Maftir: Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:1-6 Haftarah: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 Today, Friday, September 15th, at sundown the holiday of Rosh Hashanah begins. This marks the beginning of a very special … Read More
Trusting God in Hard Times
Parashat Nitzavim (Standing) & Parashat Vayelech (He Went) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 29:9-30:20 & 31:1-30 Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9 Lately I have been reflecting a lot on the events happening around us. My kids asked me if I … Read More
Giving Him Our Best
Parashat Ki Tavo (When You Come) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 26:1-29:8 Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1-22 It’s easy to allow important things to become meaningless habits. At times, there are things that we say and do that can easily … Read More
Extending Divine Grace to Others
Parashat Ki Teitzei (When You Go Out) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 21:10-25:19 Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10 As I was reading this week’s portion, the word “grace” kept coming to me. As I write this commentary, I sense that … Read More
Jerusalem: Aligning Our Hearts with God’s
Parashat Re’eh (See or Look) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 11:26-16:19 Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5 Recently, I had the privilege to share a message at one of our partner congregations in the United States. The message that I prepared … Read More
The Difference Between God and Men
Parashat Ekev (Because of ) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 7:12-11:25 Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14-51:3 Many years ago, as a young man who just enlisted in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), I received a small pocketbook of Psalms. Back … Read More
When Worries Become Idols
Parashat Va’etchanan (To Implore or Beg…) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 3:23–7:11 Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1–26 We live in some very interesting days, where we see some serious changes happening in front of our own eyes in many different … Read More
A Vision of Restoration
Parashat D’varim (Words) D’varim (Deuteronomy) 1:1-3:22 Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1–27 Shabbat Hazon (Vision) This week’s reading from the Haftarah is the last of the three weeks’ reading prior to the ninth of Av (known as Tisha … Read More