Parashat Shoftim: Justice, Justice Let Us Pursue (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on Friday, August 18, 2023) Over the last several millennia, humanity has developed a large and growing body of profound writings, words which encapsulate the hopes, aspirations and potential of the human soul. Across the globe, religious traditions rightly exult in the majesty and […]
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 […]
Parashat Pinchas: “She Never Told Her Love” (D’var Torah delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on July 7, 2023) Henry Peach Robinson was a nineteenth-century English photographer who was best known for pioneering the technique of joining multiple negatives or prints to form a single image. His most famous work, “Fading Away,” is a great example […]
Parashat Naso: On G!d’s Speaking/”Speaking” (A d’var Torah/Torah study delivered by Rabbi Sacks on June 3, 2023) The final verse of Parashat Naso is easy to dismiss as a wrap-up. It comes after a long passage that describes the gifts the leader of each tribe presented at the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting (both names […]
Shabbat Naso: Samson and Toxic Masculinity (A d’var Torah delivered by Rabbi Sacks on June 2, 2023) This week our haftarah especially compels us to think about men and masculinity. So before we think about the haftarah, let’s get some Jewish views on men. Think about what each quote might be saying–and not saying–about men […]
Consider Roddie Edmonds and So Consider Your Mortality (A Yizkor sermon delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on May 27, 2023) On this Memorial Day weekend, I’d like to recall the life of Master Sgt. Roderick “Roddie” Edmonds from Knoxville, Tennessee, who enlisted in the United States Army in 1941 and served in the 106th Infantry […]
PAINTING JERUSALEM: MODERN ARTISTS PORTRAY THE HOLY CITY (A Torah Discussion with Rabbi Sacks given on May 20, 2023) On Thursday night when we inaugurated Yom Yerushalayim. Fran showed the importance of Jerusalem to three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and showed a key important location in Jerusalem for each. I explored how […]
Parashat Emor: For What Should I Compromise on Religious Observance? (A d’var Torah delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on May 6, 2023) Around the corner and half way up the street was an small Orthodox synagogue, housed in a converted home. They were small and only met on Shabbat and holy days. Their president davened […]
Seventh Day Pesach: Quotes about Slavery/Freedom and a Painting (A community study and d’var Torah led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on April 12, 2023) On the first morning of Pesach, we took time to discuss quotes about slavery and freedom, and how they might resonate with us. Please refer to your handout. Then we focused […]