VaYigash 5784 | Kate Rozansky
01/26/2024 10:27:13 AM
How to be an Abomination
My son Sam’s favorite place to be is up on the bima, and not only to get lollipops. What he really wants to do is “give a Dvar Torah.” Actually, some of you might really like his drashas - they’re a little esoteric but very efficient. Any chance he gets, he climbs and yell his favorite words. “Excavator! Soccer! Tractor Ted!” He takes the...Read more...
VaYeshev 5784 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
01/26/2024 10:27:09 AM
Between Persecution and Salvation
When Sara, Noam, and I lived in Jerusalem we befriended a Christian family whom I met in the playground. There was some exchange among the parents where my ability to speak both in English and Hebrew was very helpful to them and after spending several Shabbat afternoons together at the playground, I invited them to our home for a Shabbat meal and...Read more...
Lekh Lekha 5784 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
01/26/2024 10:27:06 AM
And You Shall Be a Blessing
I never get as much done “after the hagim” as I hope to. There are always too many deferred plans and meetings and tasks to accomplish when the holiday season comes to an end. I am sure I am not alone in having that experience. This year, I thought I would preempt the end of the holiday season by using the opportunity to speak to you on Shimini Atzeret morning to...Read more...
YK 5784 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
01/26/2024 10:27:03 AM
Qualitative & Quantitative
Three books are opened on Rosh Hashanah. The fully righteous are written and sealed immediately for life. The fully wicked are written and sealed immediately for death. And those in the middle have their judgment suspended until Yom Kippur. If they merit, they are sealed for life. If they do not merit, they are sealed for death.
This...Read more...
RH2 5784 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
01/26/2024 10:26:58 AM
Education and Choice
When I was a teenager, whenever my friends did something slightly edgy, we would say to one another, “what you just did is illegal in 5 states.” Well, times have changed and federalism is fun, and I can now add to the list of every-day joyful activities in our community that are illegal in certain jurisdictions. In particular, this shul exposes young...Read more...
RH1 5784 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
01/26/2024 10:26:42 AM
Writing the End of the Story
There are sad stories, and there are happy stories and there are Jewish stories.
As every student of drama and literature knows, tragedies end in a funeral; comedies end with a wedding. Everyone attending a Shakespearean tragedy or comedy knows how it will end before the curtain rises. And the same is true for someone...Read more...
Nitzavim 5783 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
01/26/2024 10:25:39 AM
Today
When David Ben Gurion made his first state visit to the United States as prime minister of Israel he gave a speech about the power of Jewish memory. How many Americans, he asked, know what day the Mayflower set sail for North America? How many Americans know what food was eaten on the Mayflower? And yet, every Jewish child knows precisely what day our...Read more...
Ekev 5783 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
08/09/2023 01:25:03 PM
Underfoot Mitzvot
If you were approached without warning and asked to name “the most important mitzvah” what would you answer?
This morning I want to suggest that the most important mitzvah is the one you do not yet observe.
There are many ways to classify mitzvot. There are commands and prohibitions. There are time-bound mitzvot which can only be...Read more...
Va’etchanan 5783 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
08/09/2023 01:19:06 PM
That is Your Wisdom and Understanding
This week was my first “holiday” week at Ohev Sholom. Because the “holiday” in question was Tisha b’Av, I didn’t have to worry about cooking a big holiday meal, but preparing for Tisha b’Av was stll a major focus of the week. And, in the midst of my preparations for Tisha b’Av, I had stolen pockets of time to worry about...Read more...
Matot Ma’asei 5783 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
07/17/2023 09:32:52 AM
Finding Equilibrium
One of the techniques used by television writers to build excitement as a TV series reaches its grand finale is to bring back characters from earlier episodes for cameo appearances in the final episode. This resolves plot lines, brings closure to narrative arcs, and rewards the loyalty of viewers who can appreciate seeing a character from the first episode on screen...Read more...
Hukat - Balak 5783 | Rabbi David Wolkenfeld
07/03/2023 05:07:16 PM
Transitions
One of my favorite rabbinic jokes is particularly appropriate for a Shabbat such as this one. I first shared it publicly ten years ago, I shared it again a few weeks ago, and I’m going to share it here this morning:
There was once a new rabbi who, in the excitement and business of moving to a new community, somehow managed to show up on his first Shabbat...Read more...
Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
12/17/2021 01:22:52 PM
"Life Imitates Torah."
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
12/10/2021 11:36:53 AM
"Life Imitates Torah."
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
12/03/2021 01:25:38 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
11/26/2021 11:33:37 AM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
11/19/2021 11:07:22 AM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
11/12/2021 12:43:37 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
11/05/2021 12:05:53 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
10/29/2021 12:34:07 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
10/22/2021 12:10:52 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
10/15/2021 12:39:53 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
10/08/2021 11:34:24 AM
"Life Imitates Torah."
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
10/01/2021 12:36:52 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
09/24/2021 12:54:37 PM
Listen to Maharat Friedman's weekly parasha podcast
"Life Imitates Torah."
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
09/10/2021 11:43:52 AM
Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
09/03/2021 01:22:23 PM
Rachel Berger
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
08/27/2021 12:28:10 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
08/20/2021 12:41:10 PM
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
08/13/2021 11:34:09 AM
Daf Yomi for Kids
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Divrei Torah and Kids Corner
08/06/2021 10:38:53 AM
"Life Imitates Torah."
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