Corporate Torah

Shabbat Balak This Shabbat the Diaspora "catches up" with Israel with a double portion Chukat-Balak. Feel free to double dose on the Slack Torah as well with last week's message Dvar Torah – Rising with courage In this week's portion, Balak, King of Moab, hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Jewish people. Standing on a hilltop overlooking the Israelite camp, Balaam opens his mouth and blessings pour out instead. Among them: "Behold, a people that rises like a cub, and lifts itself like a lion" (Numbers 23:24). The classic commentator Rashi (quoting the Midrash) explains this verse as a moving description of something ordinary – our morning routines. Balaam saw that Jews arise each day with the energy and vigor of lion cubs, going from one mitzvah to another from our very first waking moments. From the moment we say “Modeh Ani” till the moment we say Shema before going to sleep, we are on a journey of meaning. In fact, this image is so foundational that ...

Shabbat Chukat – Israel For Diaspora, please refer to last week’s Dvar Torah for Korach Dvar Torah – Aaron’s Caring Leadership In this week's portion, the Torah records the death of Aaron, the High Priest. Describing the nation's grief, the Torah recounts that "the entire house of Israel" wept for him. Compared to Moses later passing, the wording is different. There it is simply "the children of Israel" who mourn. The difference is subtle, but the Torah's language is never accidental. Why was Aaron mourned by the entire house of Israel? Rashi, quoting the Midrash explains that this means that everyone - men and the women alike mourned Aaron. Beyond serving in the Tabernacle, Aaron devoted his life to pursuing peace between a person and his fellow, and between husband and wife. He would move quietly between estranged parties until resentment melted away and relationships were restored. This leadership of tenderness and care was mourned by all. ...

Shabbat Korach Dvar Torah – Inspiring the spiritual through the material I once visited Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guards. The pomp, circumstance, and trumpets perfectly captured the grandeur of the British monarchy. On another occasion, while taking a nighttime stroll in a much smaller European country, I passed by the formal royal residence. There were no horses or guards in sight—just a simple “Please do not disturb” sign. It was, to say the least, underwhelming. There is a natural human need to associate importance with beauty and ceremony. In this week’s Torah portion, there is a commandment to post guards around the perimeter of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem at night. Maimonides famously points out (Beit Habechira 8:1) that this was not a security measure to keep out thieves or enemies; rather, it was strictly a guard of honor. A majestic building with guards is substantially different than one without. Even in the darkest hours of the night, the torche...

Shabbat Shelach Dvar Torah This week we recount the story of the spies, where after a blasphemous report of the Promised Land the Israelites regret their journey there and rebel. Consequently, G-d tells them that that the current generation will not live to enter the Promised Land but instead will wander the desert for 40 years. Immediately following this devastating news, the text suddenly pivots and begins detailing a series of  mitzvot  (commandments) that can only be performed once the people enter the Land of Israel. This juxtaposition sends a clear message of hope: the story isn't over, and the Jewish people will inherit the Promised Land. The Ohr Hachaim – one of the classic commentators - offers a deeper insight. He suggests that because their descendants were absolutely guaranteed to come to the land, the certainty of that future event transcended time. It was as if the wandering generation, despite passing away in the wilderness, inherited the land themselves....