Category: Sefer Shemot / Book of Exodus

How Do We Continue the Work of Liberation Without Miracles?

As we commemorate MLK Day, how can we support liberation in our communities? How do we continue the work of liberation without miracles?

Rachel Galanter April 5, 2024 Parashat Bo Parashat Bo Dvar Torah

On Relationships with God and Other Human Beings

Ilana Sandberg (JTS RS '24) explores parashat Ki Tisa and speaks on relationships with God and other human beings.

Ilana Sandberg February 29, 2024 JTS Senior Sermon Learning

The Torah of Disorienting Moments

Talia Kaplan (JTS RS '24) explores parashat Mishpatim and the Torah of disorienting moments, reflecting on her rabbinical school experience.

Rabbi Talia Kaplan February 7, 2024 JTS Senior Sermon Learning

Binding Love and Loss

Amalya Volz (JTS RS '24) explores Parashat Yitro through the binding of love and loss and the people of Israel's relationship with God.

Amalya Volz February 1, 2024 JTS Senior Sermon Learning

Charlton Heston Speaking

We can learn about leadership from Moses, as well as from Charlton Heston speaking, as he plays Moses in the Ten Commandments movie.

David Harrison January 31, 2024 Holidays Learning

Shirat Hayam: They’re playing our song!

Shirat Hayam connects us to a collective memory and is the proof-text that enlarges, extends, and authenticates the meaning of the prayer.

Cantor Sharon Citrin Goldstein January 25, 2024 Holidays Parashat Beshalach

Why I Change the Melodies: Exploring Keva and Kavanah

By occasionally changing melodies, we draw from both Keva and Kavanah and invite ourselves into a deeper connection with our prayers.

Nichole Chorny, Cantorial Intern and Education & Youth Director at Congregation Anshei Israel January 22, 2024 Holidays Music

The Builder of the Dwelling

God created the world but it was not complete until a home was made for God. These homes come in the forms of the Mishkan ...

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 28, 2023 Parashat Pekudei Parashat Pekudei Haftarah

In God’s Shadow

Parashat Pekudei describes the construction of the Mishkan in accordance with the specific instructions given by God to Moshe.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 28, 2023 Parashat Pekudei Parashat Pekudei Dvar Torah

Parashat Vayakhel Haftarah Between Enthusiasm and Law

Study Guide: Between Enthusiasm and Law

This week's study guide explores the building of the Tabernacle. The exploration includes time worked and communal actions completed.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 28, 2023 Parashat Vayakhel Parshat Vayakhel Study Guide

The King’s New Clothes

Jeoash, the king discussed in this week's haftarah, becomes king at a young age. Does his goodness come from himself or his teachers?

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 28, 2023 Parashat Vayakhel Parashat Vayakhel Haftarah

Raiders of the Lost Ark

In the film Raiders of the Lost Ark, archeologist Indiana Jones vies to recover the Ark of the Covenant, featured in this week’s parashah.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 28, 2023 Parashat Vayakhel Parashat Vayakhel Dvar Torah

The Masveh Aliyah: Honor Someone Who Cares

On Parashat Ki Tisa, honor someone in your community who embodies empathy and care. The Aliyah also marks the anniversary of the pandemic.

Rabbi Eric Woodward, Efrem L. Epstein February 26, 2023 Parashat Ki Tisa Parashat Ki Tisa Dvar Torah

Hopping Between Two Branches

This week's Haftarah parallels the parashah's discussion on God. The Israelites face more attractive gods but return to God, in the end.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 22, 2023 Parashat Ki Tisa Parashat Ki Tisa Haftarah

Study Guide: A Cosmic National Sign

This week's study guide explores the relationship between God and the Israelites, in the Israelites keeping the Sabbath for God.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 22, 2023 Parashat Ki Tisa Parashat Ki Tisa Study Guide

The Aromatic Smokescreen

Our parashah contains the Ten Commandments, as well as instructions for preparing the Ketoret, the incense offered in the Tabernacle.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 22, 2023 Parashat Ki Tisa Parashat Ki Tisa Dvar Torah

Study Guide Parashat Pekudei: Clean in the Eyes of God

Study Guide: Clean in the Eyes of God

This week's study guide discusses details about the building of the mishkan and cleanliness in the context of prayer.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 22, 2023 Parashat Pekudei Parashat Pekudei Study Guide

Mortality and the Generations

Ezekiel is rather similar to Moses. Both of them serve God and Israel outside of the land of Israel. This week's Haftarah explores that.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 19, 2023 Parashat Tetzaveh Parashat Tetzaveh Haftarah

Study Guide: Whose Light Is It?

This week's study guide follows the concept of light used in the Mishkan, as compared with the light in the creation of the world.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 19, 2023 Parashat Tetzaveh Parashat Tetzaveh Study Guide

Nothing But Radish Oil

This week’s parashah opens with God’s instructions to Moshe concerning the oil used for lighting the Menorah in the Mishkan.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 19, 2023 Parashat Tetzaveh Parashat Tetzaveh Dvar Torah

Love and the Building of the Temple

Building Solomon’s Temple was perhaps the greatest feat ever of Jewish architecture. This week's haftarah explores this more.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 13, 2023 Parashat Terumah Parashat Terumah Haftarah

Study Guide: The Royal Table

This week's parshah discusses instructions for building accessories for the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. This includes a lavish, gold table.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 13, 2023 Parashat Terumah Parashat Terumah Study Guide

The Furnished Ark

Our parashah describes the creation of the Mishkan, especially the ark, holding the tablets, manna, Aaron's staff, and oil.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 13, 2023 Parashat Terumah Parashat Terumah Dvar Torah

Parashat Mishpatim Haftarah: Freedom

The greatest story of our tradition is a story about freedom. This week's Haftarah from Jeremiah explores freedom and our choices.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 5, 2023 Parashat Mishpatim Parashat Mishpatim Haftarah

Study Guide: Let Go!

This week's study guide presents commentary on the shemitah—sabbatical year—and giving to the poor or giving tzedakah.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 5, 2023 Parashat Mishpatim Parashat Mishpatim Study Guide

The Baby in the Brick

Our parashah describes a puzzling episode, following the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai when elders of Israel envision God.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 5, 2023 Parashat Mishpatim Parashat Mishpatim Dvar Torah

Stumps and Seeds

This week's Haftarah, Isaiah, focuses on the promised destruction and regeneration. Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" depicts that.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 27, 2023 Parashat Yitro Parashat Yitro Haftarah

Study Guide: Tabula Rasa?

The study guide for Parashat Yitro discusses the Ten Commandments and the relationships between fathers and children.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 27, 2023 Parashat Yitro Parashat Yitro Study Guide

Sitting Atop A Sundial

Our parashah contains the words of the Ten Commandments, which God speaks to Moses and the people of Israel from Mount Sinai.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 27, 2023 Parashat Yitro Parashat Yitro Dvar Torah

The Song of Deborah and All That Jazz

Rethinking the Tanakh as a Musical and the Song of Deborah as one of the major musical numbers invites to reflect differently.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 19, 2023 Parashat Beshalach Parashat Beshalach Haftarah

Study Guide: Two Ends of a Stick

Moses is instructed to strike the stone as a water source with a rod because the Israelites are thirsty. What else did this rod do?

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 19, 2023 Parashat Beshalach Parashat Beshalach Study Guide

Make the Bitter Sweet

Just three days after escaping Egypt, the Israelites find themselves in the desert with no water, causing spiritual crises.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 19, 2023 Parashat Beshalach Parashat Beshalach Dvar Torah

Coming Home

A claim to the land of Israel ranged from a covenant with Abraham to laws to keep the land. This week's haftarah discusses that.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 19, 2023 Parashat Bo Parashat Bo Haftarah

Parashat Bo Study Guide: Time and the Teller

Study Guide: What Does Telling Time Tell Us About the Teller?

When Moses names a time for the final plague, the death of the first born, he isn't as specific as we might expect, why?

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 19, 2023 Parashat Bo Parashat Bo Study Guide

Restarting Time

This week's parashah opens a conversation about when the beginning of the year is and the impact that it has on time itself.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 19, 2023 Parashat Bo Parashat Bo Dvar Torah

Bending or Breaking

What composes the inner grit, the resilient core of a person? Whatever it is, Pharoah is notoriously lacking.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 10, 2023 Parashat Vaera Parashat Vaera Haftarah

The Pizza Toast

Vaera opens with God reiterating the covenant made with Moshe's ancestors. What's the connection between this parshah and pizza toast?

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 10, 2023 Parashat Vaera Parashat Vaera Dvar Torah

The Sound of Prayer

This week's haftarah brings meaning to words without meaning—nonsense—and how to pray without understanding the literal meaning.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 30, 2022 Parashat Shemot Parashat Shemot Haftarah

Study Guide: Midwives

The study guide for this week's parashah focuses on the roles of the midwives in the beginning of the Exodus story.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 30, 2022 Parashat Shemot Parashat Shemot Study Guide

Bridegroom of Blood

Shemot describes the early years of Moshe’s life up to the pivotal moment when he is informed of his mission awaiting him in Egypt.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 30, 2022 Parashat Shemot Parashat Shemot Dvar Torah

Study Guide: 1-0 in Favor of Pharoah

In this week's parashah, Moshe is accused of “giving Pharaoh a sword to kill us,” in response to his demands of "let my people go."

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 28, 2022 Parashat Vaera Parashat Vaera Study Guide

Category: Sefer Shemot / Book of Exodus

Find meaning in your inbox. Sign up for our emails!

Sections

Connect

Our Journey

About