Parashat Toldot
Friday, November 20, 2020 /4 Kislev, 5781 Parashat Toldot Genesis 25:19–28:9 Dear Friends, “Before the pandemic, I didn’t say ‘hi’ to my neighbors when I passed them on the street,” explained Los Angeles native Isabel Adler. “But like so many things, neighbor-to-neighbor relations changed in March, when LA’s stay-at-home-order went into effect. Almost immediately, our […]
Toldot 5781
Communication Matters The Netziv (Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, 1816–1893, dean of the yeshiva in Volozhin) made the astute observation that Isaac and Rebecca seem to suffer from a lack of communication. He noted that Rebecca’s “relationship with Isaac was not the same as that between Sarah and Abraham or Rachel and Jacob. When they had […]
Parashat Hayei Sarah
Friday, November 13, 2020 /26 Heshvan, 5781 Parashat Hayei Sarah Genesis 23:1–25:18 Dear Friends, I recently had a conversation with a man who described himself as “spiritual.” While he had trouble connecting with Shabbat services, he was developing a meditative practice. “That’s not really Jewish,” he said, “Right?” In this week’s Torah portion, we learn […]
Chayei Sarah 5781
Beginning the Journey Rabbi Sacks z’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will carry on distributing these essays each week, so people around the world can continue to learn and be inspired by his Torah. A while back, a British newspaper, The […]
Rabbi Lord Sacks, rabbinical giant of his generation, dies at 72
Rabbi Lord Sacks, rabbinical giant of his generation, dies at 72 Rabbi Lord Sacks, one of the leading British-Jewish voices of his age, died on Saturday November 7th at the age of 72. The former Chief Rabbi’s official Twitter account published a statement on Saturday night stating: “Baruch Dayan Ha’Emet. It with the deepest sadness […]
Parashat Vayeira
Friday, November 6, 2020 /19 Heshvan, 5781 Parashat Vayeira Genesis 18.1–22:24 Dear Friends, At a time of national strife, rising tensions, and political polarity, our Torah portion reminds us of one of the most central teachings in our tradition – the importance of treating one another with dignity and respect. Parashat Vayeira begins with Abraham […]
Vayera 5781
Answering the Call The early history of humanity is set out in the Torah as a series of disappointments. God gave human beings freedom, which they then misused. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Cain murdered Abel. Within a relatively short time, the world before the Flood became dominated by violence. All flesh perverted […]
Parashat Lekh L’kha
Friday, October 30, 2020 /12 Heshvan, 5781 Parashat Lekh L’kha Genesis 12:1–17:27 Dear Friends, This week’s portion introduces us to Avram and Sarai, two brave souls who heeded God’s call to set on a journey away from the only home they had ever known. Abraham never felt comfortable in the world of idolatry. Midrashim explained […]
Lech Lecha 5781
The Courage not to Conform Leaders lead. That does not mean to say that they do not follow. But what they follow is different from what most people follow. They don’t conform for the sake of conforming. They don’t do what others do merely because others are doing it. They follow an inner voice, a […]
Noach 5781
Righteousness is not Leadership The praise accorded to Noah is unparalleled in Tanach. He was, says the Torah, “a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with God.” No such praise is given to Abraham or Moses or any of the Prophets. The only person in the Bible who comes close is Job, described […]