Corporate Torah

Shabbat Vayelech Dvar Torah - Strength in Succession When Moses concludes his final address to Israel, he is 120 years old and fully aware that the time has come to pass on and hand leadership to his disciple Joshua. The Torah begins the parsha with the phrase “Vayelech Moshe” —literally, “Moses walked.” Ibn Ezra explains this as the walk of a departing leader: a final circuit through the people, reassuring them not to fear his departure, urging instead to follow Joshua with strength and courage into the Promised Land. It is striking that on his very last day—while standing on the eastern banks of the Jordan, close enough to glimpse the land he longed to enter but never would—Moses does not retreat into private reflection. Instead, he spends his final hours traversing the encampment, speaking to the people, encouraging and fortifying them. In this parting act, Moses once again leaves us with an enduring model of leadership, teaching two timeless principles: 1.   ...

Rosh Hashanah 5786 Dvar Torah On Rosh Hashanah, we read about two women — Sarah and Hannah — who longed for children and whose heartfelt prayers were answered with the births of Isaac and Samuel. Jewish tradition teaches that their prayers were answered on Rosh Hashanah itself, which is why we read their stories on this day. The Midrash adds something beautiful: when Sarah’s prayers were answered, many others who were waiting for blessings were answered at the same time. The prayers for the birth of Isaac brought not only joy to his parents, but a wave of joy to the world — a world filled with laughter as once-barren women embraced their newborn children. As we approach Rosh Hashanah, this reminds us that nothing is beyond reach. Like Sarah and Hannah, our prayers — our deepest hopes for what is missing in our lives — can be heard. But Rosh Hashanah is not only a personal moment; it is a day for the entire Jewish people, in fact the entire world. Like our matriarch Sarah, our ...

Shabbat Nitzavim Dvar Torah This week’s Torah portion touches on themes of Jewish history and destiny — including exile from the Land of Israel and the promise of return. In one passage, the Torah offers a remarkable vision: “Even if your scattered ones are at the ends of the heavens, from there Hashem your G-d will gather you, and from there he will take you back. And Hashem your G-d will bring you to the land of your ancestors…” (Deut. 30:4–5). The promise is sweeping in scope: even Jews who are as distant as the “ends of the heavens” are not forgotten. All remain part of the story. Remarkably, we have seen this play out in modern times with over 4 million Jews around the world from New York and Paris to mountain villages in Yemen and Ethiopia returning to our ancestral homeland in Israel, illustrating the continuous fulfillment of this ancient promise and reminding us that no Jew is too distant to belong Trivia Nitzavim is the second-shortest Torah portion with only 40 ver...

Shabbat Parshat Ki-Tavoh Dvar Torah – Judaism’s Day 1 Culture As Moshe concludes his review of the commandments on the banks of the Jordan, he tells the people:  “On this day Hashem your G-d commands you to observe these laws.”  The wording is striking— why “on this day”?  Wasn’t this already commanded at Sinai? The classic commentator Rashi explains that the Torah is reminding us to approach it as if every day were “Day 1” —fresh, new, and full of energy. That’s not easy. But the way we can keep Torah alive is by making it personal. When we learn, reflect, and discover new insights, we’re not just repeating old lessons—we’re expanding them, renewing them, and incorporating them in our own lives today. At this point when Moshe concludes his own masterclass (see Ramban), he hands us the baton to keep learning, discovering, and letting that continual renewal be the source of ongoing excitement and purpose in Jewish life. Trivia Following Shabbat, Ashkenazim will ...

Shabbat Parshat Ki-Teitzei Dvar Torah - Cultivating a caring mindset This week’s parsha teaches the mitzvah of  Shichecha  (lit. “forgotten”) - that farmers must leave forgotten bundles in the field for the poor, adding a promise  “so that G-d will bless you in all your work”  ( Deu. 24:19 ). Normally, the Torah does not spell out the reward for mitzvot, but Rashi  explains  that here the Torah highlights this blessing to teach us that even an unintentional mitzvah – done simply by forgetting – still merits reward. But why should something unintentional merit reward? Perhaps an answer can be found in Rav Hirsch who explains that Shichecha is meant to change us as people, conditioning our state of mind away from our natural inclination to amass wealth, to one of largesse towards the poor. When we live our lives in a mindset of contribution and care, even deeds we do unintentionally are inspired by a sense of awareness for the needs of others and are sur...