“He–and We–Live”–A Torah Study for Parashat Vay’chi Led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on December 18, 2021   Today’s Torah reading is Parashat Vay’chi. “Vay’chi” means, “And he lived,” and this portion ends the book of Genesis. It records a lot. Try to take in this listing: The last years and death of Jacob; Jacob’s request […]

Hanukkah and Parashat Mikketz 2021: The Importance of 2025 (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on December 3, 2021, the Shabbat of Hanukkah)   Our Sages made sure that this week’s portion Miketz is read during or in immediate proximity to Hanukkah. They did so because of larger truths. Here the Rabbis and the Masoretes, the people […]

Parashat Lech Lecha: Let G!d Judge Between You and Me Student Rabbi Maayan Lev (delivered on October 15, 2021) This week’s Torah portion is Lech Lecha, a portion so rich, so full of many stories, that it is hard to know what to focus on. There is so much to pull from! Fortunately, the triennial […]

Yizkor Sermon for Sh’mini Atzeret: “Tattered Shoes” (delivered on September 28, 2021) We are completing Sukkot, one of our shalosh regalim, our pilgrimage holidays. Shalosh regalim literally means “three feet,” reminding us that since ancient days, three times a year, on Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot, pilgrims would make a journey to the holy city. The […]

The Akedah, The Un’taneh Tokef and the Pandemic:  Part 2: Lessons Learned and Lived Rosh HaShanah, First Morning 5782 (September 7, 2021)   Boker tov. Good morning. L’shanah tovah to all of you. Last night I spoke mainly about the Akedah, the story of the binding of Isaac which we’ll read tomorrow, and a bit […]

­The Akedah, The Un’taneh Tokef and the Pandemic: Part 1: “Envisioning” the Akedah Erev Rosh HaShanah 5782 (September 6, 2021) Tonight I share a story that I have never before seen in the light of the High Holy Days. I have told this story during the internment portion at funerals, though I did not learn […]