Not in the Cave: Why Rachel Waits on the Way
I have always been puzzled by a story in this week’s Parasha, Vayishlach. In the Parasha, , we learn of the death of Rachel (Genesis 35:15-19). The text tells […]
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God Was in This Place, and I Did Not Know
Genesis 28:16 may be one of the most mysterious verses in the Torah, because in a single startled sentence, Jacob discovers that his ordinary, anonymous campsite has in fact […]
Was Jacob Jealous of Esau?
Jacob’s story can be read as one of deep spiritual purpose, not of jealousy—as someone who stays true to his calling without wishing for Esau’s life or possessions. In […]
Acts of Kindness, Acts of Faith: Reflections on Chayei Sarah
Today’s d’var Torah is dedicated to the memory of my father, Henry Goldwasser, Zicron L’vracha on his fourth Yahrzeit, this Shabbat. This week’s Torah portion is Chayei Sarah (Genesis […]
Unpacking Identity: Why “Other” is Sometimes the Best Answer
As often happens, I find myself overflowing with ideas after listening to a podcast episode, and today is no different. Yesterday, while listening to a discussion about Sephardi and […]
Is it permissible for Jewish children to go trick-or-treating on Halloween?
What a complex question! On the surface, Halloween might seem like a simple secular holiday in America, similar to Thanksgiving. However, when we examine Halloween’s origins, we find that […]
Passing Through: Avram’s Journey and Sacred Spaces – Parashat Lekh Lekha
When Avram arrives in Canaan, the Torah notes: “Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, at the Terebinth of Moreh; and the Canaanites were […]
My Favorite Podcasts
Over the past several years, podcasts have become very popular. It is estimated that over 584 million people globally are currently listening to podcasts, and the number is projected […]
The Many Faces of Temimut: Innocence, Integrity, and Struggle
The Torah introduces Noach with striking praise: אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים הִתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹחַ׃ “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, […]
Parashat Bereshit: Let There Be Light: Creation, Redemption, and the Return Home
Parashat Bereshit begins with darkness. The Torah’s opening words describe the earth as tohu va’vohu—formless and void—with darkness covering everything. It is a haunting image of chaos and confusion. […]