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Pesah: The Chesed Holiday

Apr 8, 2006 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shabbat Hagadol

Next week marks the beginning of Passover; with this annual celebration, Jews gather to celebrate the birth of the Israelite nation.

Moses, the Charismatic Leader

Apr 15, 2006 By Marc Wolf | Commentary | Pesah

It would have been sufficient. The refrain of dayenu that reverberated through seders around the world still rings in my ears.

Reinvigorating Conservative Judaism

Feb 11, 2006 By Susan Grossman | Commentary | Beshallah

The Talmud recounts a story told by Rabbi Joshua Ben Hananiah who, while on a journey, met a young boy sitting at a crossroad.

A (Fearful) Man with a Mission

Jan 21, 2006 By JTS Alumni | Commentary | Shemot

By Rabbi Francine Roston

There is a rabbinic teaching that each of us is to carry two pieces of paper in our pockets. From our left pocket we can pull out the piece that reads: “From dust and ashes I have come.” From our right pocket we can pull out the piece that reads: “For my sake the world was created.” There are moments when we need our feet pulled down to the ground and there are moments when we need to be lifted up from low places. 

God’s Evolution

Nov 5, 2005 By Marc Wolf | Commentary | Noah

Our sacred canon serves as the touchstone for tradition.

Between Creation and the Flood

Oct 29, 2005 By Burton L. Visotzky | Commentary | Bereishit

In the beginning, Dr. Ismar Schorsch was a rigorous scholar, a great teacher, and Chancellor of 麻豆原创.

The Inspirational History of Rosh Hashanah

Oct 5, 2005 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Rosh Hashanah

If sanctity be measured by synagogue attendance, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur win hands down.

“This Is Water” and This Is Joy

Oct 18, 2008 By Marc Wolf | Commentary | Sukkot

There is an almost organic progression from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. However, when we get caught up in preparations for the holidays, we risk missing the intended effect. From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur we work on deconstructing ourselves and our worlds. We stand together and seek to expose our inner selves, leaving us vulnerable and open. The language of Yom Kippur prepares us for this feeling鈥攚e are not atoning for our sins as we do at the beginning of Leviticus when the laws of sacrifice are first introduced, but on another level altogether. As we learn during our Torah reading, on Yom Kippur we atone from sin (Lev. 16:30). Through the day we literally achieve a level of purity鈥攄uring the 厂鈥檒颈肠丑辞迟 and Avodah services we recite over and over again the verse, “on this day we are purified.” At the end of 狈别鈥榠濒补丑, we are left spiritually lighter.