This week's counting of the omer is symbolically connected with the sefirah of Yesod, foundation. One of the foundational principles of the Torah, and thereby a foundation of Jewish living, is “v'ahavta l’reachah kamochah” (Leviticus 19:18), “you shall love your fellow human being as ...
Shmita is one of the most radical ideas in Judaism. Known broadly as the ancient Jewish Sabbatical year, Shmita seeks to bring about changes to the human experience. The challenges it poses to our economy and society are complex. Contrary to popular belief that ...
Rabbi Adam Chalom is Dean for North America of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism and Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in suburban Chicago. A Limmud-lover, he has presented in Boston, Chicago, the UK and virtually in 2020 ...
David is the Dean Emeritus of Pardes. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in History and a Ph.D. in Religious Education from New York University. He also attended Yeshivat HaMivtar. David has been the Dean of Pardes since 1998. ...
In the Torah, Shavuot is purely an agricultural holiday. There is no mention of the giving of the Torah taking place on Shavuot. When our ancestors counted the days from Pesach to Shavuot, their minds were on the harvest and survival. On Shavuot, when ...
Just as our ancient Israelite ancestors needed physical as well as spiritual resources to embark and sustain them on their journey, so too must we draw on and nourish our whole selves in the work for a just, livable, and liberated future. This reflection ...
Judith Hauptman is the E. Billi Ivry Professor Emerita of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Dr. Hauptman’s scholarly research focuses on two areas: unraveling the mystery of how the Talmud came into being and investigating women’s ...
As someone who chose to join the Jewish people, the journey towards Sinai each year is a particularly special one for me. The Torah tells us that G-d’s covenant was made “not with you alone but both with those who are standing here with ...
Today is both an ancient and modern reminder to raise our voices in advocacy for what is right. In Numbers 9, we learn of a group of Israelites who lobbied their representative, Moses, for a change in the law that prevented those who handled ...
Jewish tradition goes out of its way—way out of its way—to emphasize Ruth’s less-than-stellar family background. As an individual, Ruth is portrayed as a sensitive soul and earnest seeker, but as far as her origins, well, it really couldn’t get much worse for Ruth. ...
