Posts Tagged: Torah
In the Beginning
We begin the yearly cycle of the Torah by reading in Genesis about the Garden of Eden -- such an innocent idealized world before human...
Those Who’ve Sinned, and Those Who Fight
One of the most enigmatic sages of the Talmud is undoubtedly Rabbi Yose the Galilean. As a non-Judean, he was considered an outsider when he...
Parshat Mikeitz: Was Joseph Fair?
There are two conundrums in this week’s Torah reading. The great Spanish commentator Abarbanel asks why Joseph treated his brothers so cruelly when they appeared...
We Can Learn Most From Those Who Are Different From Us
Devaki Raj is the CEO and co-founder of CrowdAI, an artificial-intelligence startup that “enables anyone to create high quality solutions to analyze imagery and video.”...
The Greatest Act in the World Is to Do Someone a Favor
There is no question that the primary focus of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as the intermediate days, is “teshuva.” Usually translated as...
Why Judaism Requires Action on Climate Change
Although the issues of global warming and climate change are already familiar to us, it was not until this week that the indisputable facts of...
How the Hebrew Bible Helped Birth Modern Democracy
Jews brought many wonderful things to modernity, but one of the greatest Jewish breakthroughs arose due to Renaissance Christian efforts. This innovation was “republican exclusivism,”...
Ethics and Communal Responsibility in the Face of Corona
In addition to the many practical challenges imposed by this ongoing crisis, the outbreak of the coronavirus raises many ethical and moral questions. Most of the...
Judaism and the Power of Love
Oscar Wilde said, “The very essence of romance is uncertainty.” Perhaps, but I am fairly certain that if you are looking for romance, you won’t...
What Do We Receive When We Give?
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for Me; take My offering from all whose heart moves them to...
The Significance and Shame(?) of Jewish Names
We Jews are hyper-sensitive. Recently, several people have told me how embarrassed they are that Jewish names are so prominent in the current spate of...
Three Jewish Stories and the Essence of Life
Three short Jewish stories sum up the essence of life -- and suggest the essential elements for a life of satisfaction and meaning. The first story...
The Torah Is a Way to See the World
When I was Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, I had wonderful friendships with other religious leaders, not least the two...
Jewish Canadian Art Exhibit Promotes Tolerance Over Hate and Racism
A tapestry, currently on display at the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto, stands as a bulwark against a rising tide of intolerance and nativism...
