Tamara Cohn Eskenazi

Thwarting Evil, Saving Lives

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Elyse Frishman

June 12, 2015
The narrative of Parashat Pinchas is disturbing: the grandson of the High Priest Aaron slew two people, and was rewarded. Was he a zealot or not? He took lives. Did he save lives? From last week's Parashat Balak, we read: "While Israel was staying at Shittim, the menfolk profaned themselves...

Relationships, Responsibility and Renewal

D'Var Torah By: Tamara Cohn Eskenazi

October 7, 2014
Who are we? Parashat B'reishit pictures our origin as frail, naked earth creatures who are nevertheless bearers of the divine. The two different stories of creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3 and 2:4-3:21) share the view that we were created for relationships—with God in whose image we are or whose breath animates us...