Torah Commentary

Torah Commentary

Photo of two younger looking hands embaring an older looking hand

Seeing the Face of God

While it does not take much for me to turn to "Les Miserables," the fact that this week's Torah portion includes the command to "Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5) is a natural reason to start singing.
an image of a cement tombstone, with a star of david carved in and some rocks siting on top of the tombstone

Fearing Death and Finding Life

In Va-et'chanan, Moses stands before God, pleading for his life. With misty eyes and tears of supplication dotted with desert sand, Moses asks God for just one more thing to enter the Promised Land with the Israelites, and to allow his body and heartto touch the earth on the other side of the Jordan.
diversity a bunch of hands

The Oneness of Diversity

This week's Torah portion, va-et'chanan, can give us a helpful frame as we consider what it means to truly recognize the diversity we have in our community.
ten commandment on mountain

Not Only About the Ten Commandments

This week’s Torah portion, Va-et’chanan, usually focuses on the Ten Commandments, but as I sat down to write my commentary, I was reminded of  my teacher Rabbi Nehemia Polen, who taught us that there would be times in our lives when the “text

Search Commentary