Devarim 5785: The Importance and Challenges of Retelling
The following D’var Torah was written / delivered for Am Shalom Congregation, in Barrie, Ontario (August 2025 / Av 5785)
Devarim 5785: The Importance and Challenges of Retelling Read More »
At The End (Pikudei 5785)
I didn’t write about the the endingbecause sometimes the ending leaves youbreathless and without words to conveyYou must just go backAnd read the storyif you want to knowAnd don’t forget to read betweenthe linesAnd don’t forget where faith carries us and where faith fails usAnd where others carry uswhen we’ve run out of steamThis is
At The End (Pikudei 5785) Read More »
God Calls (Vayikra 5785)
And God calledGod callsDo we answer?Are we Jonah – trying to run from it?Are we Isaiah putting up our hand:Hinenni – I am here Listening ReadySometimes God calls,pointing the way and we’re excitedto go to follow to (ad)venture forthWe are eagerWe go willinglyAnd sometimes God calls and it’s more like a command:Go!And we know we
God Calls (Vayikra 5785) Read More »
Carry Me Home (Vayakhel 5785)
I read about the Mishkan How it was designed to be transportedwith all its rings and poles So thoughtfully created to be curated through the wildernessI wonder about the cherubim atop the Arkwith their heads bowed and their wings folded inwardAn additional layer of protection over the sacred items within?Lately I have been transportedfrom one
Carry Me Home (Vayakhel 5785) Read More »
A Sacred Prescription (Ki Tisa 5785)
We are criticalof Moses the Leader who smashesthe TabletsBut this isn’t his Great SinWell, maybe his Temper, since smashing is something he gets in trouble for laterBut not hereHere, you’d thinksmashing the God-Given Tablets would be more seriousthan smashing a river rockAnd yetGod is a Gentle Parent this timeto Moses(not so much to the idolators)
A Sacred Prescription (Ki Tisa 5785) Read More »
Scant Offerings (Teruma 5785)
How do we bring You offerings of the heartwhen our hearts are so very HeavyThe world seems to be Careening out of controlUgly and unpredictableSomeone called it a dumpster fire todayAnd certainly fires are burning as we reapthe consequences of our abuse of Your beautiful worldNot to mention one another,Your beautiful creationsWhat do we have
Scant Offerings (Teruma 5785) Read More »
From the Skin of Mermaids (Tetzaveh 5785)
God says,For Aaron and his sonsdo this:Dress them upMake them HolyGive them rulesGive them purpose and PowerAnoint the fatherAnoint the sonsBut where are the women?Where are the mothers and daughtersthe wivesthe sisters Where is Miriam?She had influence, we knowWisdom, we’ve heardShe could lead womenShe could inspire menSpeak to princesses Find water Was she too threateningsomehow?Don’t
From the Skin of Mermaids (Tetzaveh 5785) Read More »
The Value of a Life (Mishpatim 5785)
A sliver of texts leads us toa discussion we can trace back for millenniaWhat is the value of a life?And yet, surely this is not something we can debate!Created in the image of Godisn’t each of us valued above the price of rubiesAren’t we all priceless?Isn’t every human life a universe unto itself?“Save a life
The Value of a Life (Mishpatim 5785) Read More »
The Expanse (Yitro 5785)
What I wouldn’t givefor Your Cloud of Gloryright nowIt would be a comfortI am preparing to embarkIn some ways I am already in betweenI know what is ahead of meand what I am leaving behindI am ready and not readyI am heartsick and alsoeyes firmly forwardBut there is an Expanseto be crossed in a single
The Expanse (Yitro 5785) Read More »
As If We Are Worthy (B’shalach 5785)
On one side of the sea freedom was all that matteredOn the other sidewe discovered that freedom is HARDtakes COURAGErequires us to be RESPONSIBLEBut we weren’t ready We sang praises of gratitude and then immediately began to complainWhen we don’t have freedom, we are willing to fight for it. Maybe too willing, sometimesAnd when we
As If We Are Worthy (B’shalach 5785) Read More »