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 Midrash on Moses and Aaron (Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on April 6, 2024) Leviticus 10:20 וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַיִּיטַ֖ב בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ When Moses heard this, he approved BT Z’vachim 101b (= Sifra, Sh’mini, 2:12) “וייטב בעיניו”–הוֹדָה וְלֹא בוֹשׁ לוֹמַר לֹא שָׁמַעְתִּי (זבחים ק”א): AND IT WAS PLEASING IN HIS […]
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 […]
Parashat Ki Tisa: Aaron’s Way (and Moses’ Way) of Conflict Resolution (A d’var Torah delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on March 1, 2024) What do you think is the best way to get two people in a conflict to be reconciled with each other? We learn of our ancestor Aaron’s method in the rabbinic work […]
Parashat Yitro: Be Prepared (A Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on Saturday, February 3, 2024) We read the Ten Commandments today. There is so much to say, so much to unpack, so much to explore. Time, however, does not permit that. So let’s focus on the Shabbat commandment. Here it begins by commanding […]
Parashat Yitro: On One Foot? (delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on February 2, 2024) According to a popular Talmudic tale,[1] a stranger once approached Hillel and Shammai, the great sages of the first century, with a request: “Teach me the Torah while I stand on one foot.” First, he brought the request to Shammai. According […]
Thanksgiving Day: Arousing Out of Need, Not Abundance (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on Friday, November 17, 2023) If we think about Thanksgiving and research its history, we find that it has been largely misunderstood. We usually paint an idyllic picture of Pilgrims inviting Native Americans to festive tables piled high with sumptuous dishes. In truth, […]
Yom Kippur: The Power of Postcards (delivered by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on September 25, 2023) American poet Elaine Equi[1] speaks of her relationship to postcards: “The postcard is sacred to me. It makes me sad that no one sends them very much anymore because of email and texting. I still like to buy them, but […]
Kol Nidre–Three Times: Listening & Being Heard (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on September 24, 2023) Kol Nidre draws us in, with its haunting melody, its historical and mythic associations, its solemn and dramatic ritual setting, and its strategic location leading us into the Yom Kippur fast. This year, as I meditated in preparation, I pondered […]
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 […]