Claiming Our Ancestors: The Case of Terah
Oct 31, 2014 By Eliezer B. Diamond z”l | Commentary | Lekh Lekha
For all of us, there is no going without leaving; and so it was for Abraham: 鈥淕o forth from your land, your birthplace, and the house of your father to the land that I shall show you鈥� (Gen. 12:1) [emphasis added]. And when we leave places, we leave people as well. When Abraham departed for Canaan he left behind, among others, his father Terah. And it was always thus: 鈥淭herefore shall a man leave his father and mother鈥� (2:24).
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How We Can Build the Synagogue of the Future
Feb 13, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Terumah
If you care deeply about the present and future state of the synagogue, as I do, it鈥檚 difficult to resist the temptation to draw lessons from the remarkable vision of communal worship set forth in this week鈥檚 Torah portion. I do not intend to resist. Three aspects of the divine plan for the Tabernacle strike me as particularly relevant to our contemporary situation.
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When God Said 鈥淣o鈥� to Moses
Feb 26, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Ki Tissa
It must have been a great comfort to Moses鈥攁nd not only a disappointment鈥攖hat God turned down his request to see God鈥檚 glory. The wind was presence enough, on top of the mountain, much of the time鈥攖he wind, and the voice in the wind. Every visit of divine speech exhausted him now. Even the words that did not demand that he do battle, climb higher, challenge Pharaoh, rebuke the Israelites yet again, or simply鈥攐n some days the hardest鈥攅ndure.
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The Family Story
Mar 20, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Shabbat Hagadol | Pesah
I asked what part of the seder you most enjoy; whether any aspect of it bothers you; which piece of the Exodus story, if any, means a lot to you personally; and how, or if, you relate to the seder as a religious ceremony. Here鈥檚 what I learned from what you told me.
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The Spirit of Jewish Leadership
Apr 23, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Emor
Two themes in this week鈥檚 Torah portion strike me with particular urgency and force: how Israelites should mourn the dead, and the qualifications required for the priesthood.
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A People Dwelling Apart
Jun 19, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Balak
Balak鈥檚 mix of poetry, narrative, and prophecy raises questions about Israel鈥檚 status as 鈥渁 people dwelling apart鈥� that are still with us today鈥攓uestions that, in my view, make Balak one of the most troubling portions in the entire Torah.
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Blessing and Curse
Aug 21, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Ki Tavo
This week鈥檚 portion contains some of the highest highs and lowest lows in the entire Torah鈥攐r in any other work of literature, for that matter. At the start of the parashah, Israelites in the wilderness are asked to picture what it will be like to testify, from inside the Land of Israel, that they have seen God鈥檚 promises of blessing fulfilled. At the end of the parashah, those same Israelites are subjected to 54 verses of terrifying curses detailing the punishments awaiting them 鈥渋f you fail to observe faithfully all the terms of this Teaching鈥� (Deut. 28:58).
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Jacob’s Fear
Nov 13, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Vayishlah
The Torah wants us to identify with the ancestors we meet in the book of Genesis; indeed, Abraham and Sarah and their children become our ancestors when we agree not only to read their stories, but to take them forward. Abraham 鈥渂egat鈥� Isaac in one sense by supplying the seed for his conception. He 鈥渂egat鈥� him as well by shaping the life that Isaac would live, setting its direction, digging wells that his son would re-dig, making Isaac鈥檚 story infinitely more meaningful鈥攁nd terrifying鈥攂y placing him in the line of partners with God in covenant. So it is with us.
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