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Terumah (2026)

Shabbat Terumah Dvar Torah The Torah portion opens with Hashem telling the Jewish people to build the Tabernacle which will become the center of the camp and the worldly home of the Shechina – the Divine Presence. A massive fundraising campaign ensues, with the people generously giving gold, silver, precious stones and fabrics — but there are two critical conditions to participate. First, there is a specific list. Not everything is accepted and the materials must match what G-d asks for. Second, the Torah instructs to accept donations specifically from “ every man whose heart maketh him willing ” with Rashi explaining this as a wholehearted gift of goodwill. As the spiritual epicenter of the Jewish people, the Tabernacle and later the Temple needed to be built on solid foundations. To create a true home for G-d we first have to understand that it’s not about us. It’s not about our egos and what we want to give, but what is needed from us. It’s also not enough to give begrudging...
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Mishpatim (2026)

Shabbat Mishpatim Dvar Torah In last week’s Torah portion, Yitro, the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai. It was a singular  spiritual high with thunder and lightning, the mountain trembling, and the entire nation hearing the Ten Commandments. A dramatic, awe-inspiring, and unforgettable event. This week’s portion, Mishpatim, is quite the opposite. It’s about the day to day laws of respecting your neighbors, dealing with property, and settling disputes. My teacher, Rabbi Moshe Lichtenstein, often described this transition with a simple metaphor: After the wedding — the music, the celebration, the fireworks — comes real life. The excitement at the outset is critical. But what truly builds a relationship is the day-to-day work that follows. That is what Mishpatim is about. Instead of thunder and revelation, we read about ordinary responsibilities: lending money to someone in need and doing so with sensitivity; treating a borrower’s collateral with dignity; listening to the c...
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Yitro (2026)

Shabbat Yitro Dvar Torah – Jewish Unity for Generations The Jewish people, newly freed from slavery in Egypt arrive at Mount Sinai. Describing their arrival, the Torah uses an unusual phrase: “Vayichan sham Yisrael neged hahar” — “Israel camped there opposite the mountain.” Strikingly, the entire people are described in the singular – deviating from the narrative until then – addressing them as one individual rather than a multitude. Rashi explains that at that moment, the people were united “like one person with one heart” a singular moment of full and unequivocal unity across the Jewish people with Moses soon after ascending Mt. Sinai and receiving the Torah Perhaps, we can understand this detail not just as a situational description of the encampment at Sinai, but as an explanation of why the Torah was given at Sinai. Accepting the Torah — entering a lasting covenant built on shared responsibility — required an unusual depth of unity. It demanded a commitment strong enough ...
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Beshalach (2026)

  Shabbat Beshalach Dvar Torah After decades of slavery, what would you pack when leaving Egypt? The Exodus story offers surprising details. The Israelites carried Joseph’s remains to honor his final wish, weapons for self-defense, and matzah, since there was no time to let bread rise. The list goes on. One item, however, stands out: drums and tambourines. After the splitting of the sea, in a dramatic end to a dramatic scene, thousands of women suddenly take out these instruments as Miriam leads a song of gratitude. It is a powerful moment—but it raises a question. In a rushed escape where there was not even time to bake bread, who thought to bring musical instruments? The medieval commentator Rashi explains that the righteous women of the generation were confident they would witness miracles, and prepared in advance to celebrate them. This reflects not only deep faith, but also deep personal responsibility to fulfilling Hakarat Hatov (recognizing the good) a core Jewish value th...
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Bo (2026)

Shabbat Bo Dvar Torah – A Night for Generations In this week’s portion, the Torah describes the night of the Exodus as leil shimurim —a “night of protection” - and adds a striking phrase: “for all generations” accentuating that this night carries meaning beyond its original historical context. In Jewish law, this idea is expressed in practical ways. For example, since Passover night is considered a “protected night,” certain prayers are shortened as the night has a different spiritual status marking it free from fear. But the idea runs deeper than Halachic practice. The Or HaChaim HaKadosh notes that the date of Passover was connected to other moments of deliverance in history and will be connected to future redemption as well. The Exodus itself was not a one-time rescue, but the fulfillment of a promise made generations earlier to our forefather Abraham and continuing to this day. We can suggest that the idea that there is a specific night set aside for protection and deliveran...
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Vaeira (2026)

Shabbat Vaeirea Dvar Torah One of the famous questions in the Exodus story is about free will. The Torah says that G-d “hardened Pharaoh’s heart,” so even after terrible plagues, Pharaoh refused to let the Jewish people go. This seems to clash with the core Jewish idea that we all have free will and are responsible for our own actions. Many classic explanations are given, and I’d like to suggest an additional idea “Pharaoh” is not a personal name; it is a title. It represents power, pride, and even oppression. As long as Pharoh clung to being Pharaoh , ruler and oppressor of the Jewish people, his heart was “hardened.” Letting the Israelites go would have required more than changing his mind. It would have required a fundamental shift in his own perception of self. While free will is always present, the most radical choices can demand a shift in identity as well, not just an alternate decision. In this sense, Pharaoh’s free will was not taken away. He chose to retain his pride...
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Shemot (2026)

Shabbat Shemot Dvar Torah – Leadership in partnership Moses is chosen by G-d to lead the people out of Egypt, but he hesitates. He feels unprepared and unsure. G-d tells Moshe that his older brother Aharon will join him — and that Aharon is genuinely happy for Moshe’s success. There is no rivalry, no jealousy; rather, each brother values and respects the other. Moshe is the leader for moments of crisis and change. He confronts Pharaoh, leads the people through the splitting of the sea, receives the Torah at Sinai, and teaches the people how to live with purpose and values. He is the ultimate leader, who leads the people through the momentous experiences of the exodus and formation of the nation. Aharon leads in a different way. He is known as a peacemaker — someone who builds relationships, brings people together, and creates a sense of belonging. He becomes the steady presence in the Mishkan, literally at the center of the camp, helping make holiness part of everyday life. Th...
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