Tag: Relationship with God

How to Forgive (Kol Nidrei)

When the time of Yom Kippur is upon us, we talk a lot about forgiveness. Saying "sorry" is easy—how do we forgive?

Rabbi Sarah Freidson November 5, 2023 High Holidays Holidays

Secret Sins

Moshe charges the people to renew the terms of their covenant with God before entering the land, necessary for sins committed in secret.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 9, 2023 Parashat Ki Tavo Parashat Ki Tavo Dvar Torah

Like Grass

We define ourselves by our covenant, by the terms of our relationship with God. It goes in cycles like grass—growing, dying, growing again.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 6, 2023 Parashat Shoftim Parashat Shoftim Haftarah

A Conduit of Blessing

In this parashah, Moshe prepares the people for their entry into Israel, extolling the conduit of blessing that they are about to conquer.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 6, 2023 Parashat Eikev Parashat Eikev Dvar Torah

Moshe the Mother

In this week’s parashah, we see a depiction of Moshe the Mother as he pleas with God to enter the land of Israel with the ...

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 5, 2023 Parashat Va'etchanan Parashat Va'etchanan Dvar Torah

Study Guide: Ejection Born from Rejection

The study guide for parashat Devarim looks at the story of the twelve spies, in the books of Devarim and Numbers, and connects a midrash.

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

The Boiling Point

In these weeks leading up to Tisha B’av, we read a passage of Jeremiah, overflowing with water imagery and see the boiling point.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 30, 2023 Parashat Masei Parashat Masei Haftarah

Spare the Rod

This week's parashah, Chukat, focuses on the story of Moshe hitting the rock, choosing not to spare the rod, to get water.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 29, 2023 Parashat Chukat Parashat Chukat Dvar Torah

Study Guide: Do As I Mean, Not As I Say

Korach led a rebellion against Moshe (and Aaron). Ahead of the incense trial, Korach gathers the congregation against Moshe and Aaron.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 28, 2023 Parashat Korach Parashat Korach Study Guide

Disputation Without Denigration

Korach and his followers, a rebellion undermining the leadership of Moshe and Aaron, teach about disputation without denigration.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 28, 2023 Parashat Korach Parashat Korach Dvar Torah

Humanity: The Incurable Illness

The haftarah for Bechukotai is from the book of Jeremiah and discusses two words, Eikev and Enosh, and what these words mean.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva April 28, 2023 Parashat Bechukotai Parashat Bechukotai Haftarah

Perspective

Our haftarah starts bold and bloody, and connects the destruction in Amos to the destruction in the story of Noah and the flood.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva April 19, 2023 Parashat Kedoshim Parashat Kedoshim Haftarah

Far From the Tree

Tazria takes its name from conception and childbirth. Ilana Kurshan connects this to bearing fruit, both literally and metaphorically.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva March 29, 2023 Parashat Tazria Parashat Tazria Dvar Torah

On Shame

Connected Parashat Shemini's Haftarah, in Ezekiel, Bex Stern Rosenblatt explores the intersection of shame, guilt, and embarrassment.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva March 26, 2023 Parashat Shemini Parashat Shemini Haftarah

Unwanted Offerings

This week's haftarah explores human sacrifice. While the Tanakh seems to be mixed about it, God may command human sacrifice in this haftarah.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva March 19, 2023 Parashat Tzav Parashat Tzav 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

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

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: 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

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

Encountering the Shema: 7 Questions

Rabbi Mordecai Miller reflects on the Shema with 7 questions: Throughout my life, I’ve tried to understand what this sentence really means.

Rabbi Mordecai Miller January 25, 2023 Every Day Liturgy

A Spiritual Exercise

After leaving his father's home, Jacob dreams of God and experiences prayer for the first time. Learn about living in dialogue with God.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 27, 2022 Parashat Vayetzei Parashat Vayetzei Dvar Torah

Pushback

In the haftarah for Parashat Toldot, the Book of Malachi describes a dialogue of pushback between God and the people of Israel.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 17, 2022 Parashat Toldot Parashat Toldot Haftarah