Pesach Yizkor: Empty Chairs at Empty Tables (delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on April 30, 2024) (Singing:) “There’s a grief that can’t be spoken There’s a pain goes on and on. Empty chairs at empty tables Now my friends are dead and gone”…… Eight days ago we all sat around our seder tables where […]
Sh’vi-i shel Pesach: Trauma and Transcendence (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on April 29, 2024) Barely had our Israelite ancestors left Egypt, their belongings on their shoulders and the unleavened bread in their pouches, when they found themselves and their children in mortal jeopardy. Before them lay the expanse of the Reed Sea, and behind them […]
Parashat Sh’mini: A Love That Transforms (delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on April 5, 2024) Tomorrow in our Torah portion, Sh’mini, we shall read the tragic story of Nadav and Avihu, Aaron’s two eldest sons. They died, consumed by Divine fire, after bringing an offering of “strange” or “alien” fire within the sacred precincts of […]
For TU B’SHEVAT: Two Poems by Alter Esselin (A Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on January 20, 2024) With Tu B’Shevat coming this week, let us look at two poems by the Yiddish poet, Alter Esselin. Esselin was born with the name Orkeh in the Russian empire in 1889. His father died when […]
Shabbat Hanukkah: O Ir Kleyne Lichtelech (A Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on December 16, 2023) Hanukkah has inspired numerous poems over the centuries. I wanted us to look at one that seems especially resonant this year. Later, we will sing this in Yiddish, but due to time, let’s read it and unpack […]
ROSH HASHANAH SECOND DAY: T’FILLAH, T’SHUVAH, ACTION! (Torah discussion led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks) Introduction to Study/Exploration Our custom here at Am HaYam is to begin the year by studying together on Second Day Rosh HaShanah. In general, I try to place before us three texts that come from three different places, even three different […]
Parashat Ki Tavo: Paying Attention This Coming New Year (Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on September 2, 2023) We are all preparing for Rosh HaShanah. These preparations should include more than considerations of holiday dinner menu, getting apparel off to the dry cleaners, and making sure we return our forms from the High […]
Parashat Shoftim: Who Judges Your Gates? (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on Saturday, August 19, 2023) Prince, the great musician, singer, and songwriter,[1] famously told the Los Angeles Times in 2009 that “the gatekeepers must change.” While he was speaking in a different context, his suggestion might well apply to our preparation for the High Holy […]
The Book of Lamentations: Ten Responses to Tragedy & Grief[1] (A Torah Discussion led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on July 22, 2023) Our primary text for Tishah B’Av is the biblical book of Eichah, named Lamentations in English. The book contains five poems (one chapter each), each written by different anonymous authors in the aftermath […]
First Haftarah of Admonition [Jeremiah 1:1-2:3]: Lessons from an Almond Tree (Torah discussion led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on Shabbat Pinchas–July 8, 2023) Starting today, none of the next ten weeks will feature haftarah selections associated with the Torah portion. Rather, today, we read the first of three haftarot of admonition, since we just recently […]