Parashat B’midbar Sinai: Is the United States, “All For One” or “None For All,” and, if the Latter, Do We Deserve to be a Country? (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on Friday, June 3, 2022) When Shabbat ends tomorrow night, we begin a very special celebration in the Jewish world, the birthday of the Torah, Shavuot. […]
Parashat B’har Sinai: The Repetition of the Command to Not Wrong Others A Shabbat Torah Study led by Rabbi Sacks on Saturday, May 21, 2022 Last night I spoke about the command to not wrong one another, we read twice this morning. I spoke of its implications for building and maintaining peaceful relations, with in […]
Parashat B’har Sinai: The Task of Peace-Building delivered by Rabbi Sacks on May 20, 2022 We are nearing the conclusion of the book of Leviticus. The book, especially in the latter half, makes clear that extraordinary action is called for as part of our people’s calling to be kadosh l-d-nai E-l-hecha, “holy unto HaShem your […]
Seventh Day Passover: Crossing the Red Seas of Life (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on April 22, 2022) Today we read the unforgettable, thrilling episode of the crossing of the Red Sea. The Israelites, in great haste, cast off the chains and shackles of their servitude when Pharaoh, finally, granted Moses permission to take them out […]
Parashat Tzav (delivered by Student Rabbi Maayan Lev on March 18, 2022) Purim has come and gone, and, oh, what fun we had! It was so great to see everyone’s costumes, to hear the Megillah, and to sing songs together. I think it’s important to have time to relax and enjoy ourselves. In Judaism, that […]
TORAH STUDY for VaYishlach–Jacob as “Jews”; Esau as “non-Jews” (taught by Rabbi Sacks on November 20, 2021) In today’s haftarah, the prophet Obadiah uses what is called typology. Typology is the doctrine or study of types or prefigurative symbols, especially in scriptural literature. That is, Obadiah presents Jacob and Esau, he does not see […]
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 […]
Parashat Re’eh: Giving and Relatedness Delivered by Student Rabbi Maayan Lev on August, 6, 2021 Shabbat shalom everyone. For those who don’t know me, my name is Maayan Lev, and I am Am HaYam’s rabbinic intern. I work with Rabbi Sacks. This is my first time in the building, and I am so happy to […]