Shabbat Hachodesh

March 11, 2026

Breadman, and What Rising Bread Taught Me About Our Inflated Selves

This was my D’var Torah for Shabbat Hachodesh, the Shabbat before the beginning of the month when Pesach occurs, in 5769 (2009). It’s one of my favorites! On Shabbat Hachodesh, we read from Exodus 12 about the preparations for the original Pesach in Egypt. A couple weeks ago, our bread maker gave up the ghost. … Continue reading

Calendar, Exodus, Gratitude, Hakarat Hatov, Holidays, Middot, Pesach, Shabbat Hachodesh
January 11, 2022

Rechavia, Sabba Moshe, and the Night Before Leaving Egypt: A Midrash

I wrote this midrash on the 5th of Sheva 5782 (January 8, 2022) as my Dvar Torah for Parashat Bo, and in particular chapters 11-12 of Exodus, which introduce and lead into and through the last of the ten plagues in Egypt. I was thinking about issues of collective accountability and responsibility, which are the ethical… Continue reading

Antisemitism, Bo, Books, Calendar, Coronavirus, Current Affairs, History, Holidays, Hope, Justice, Leadership, Midrash, Parashat Hashavua, Pesach, Shabbat Hachodesh, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, USA
March 15, 2021

A Year in the Desert — Reflections One Year Later

This was my D'var Torah on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Shabbat Ha-Chodesh is the name for the Shabbat that precedes the start of the month when Pesach occurs. These are some of my reflections on the past year of the Covid-19 pandemic; one piece can hardly say it all. Shabbat Ha-Chodesh, this day in the… Continue reading

Calendar, Coronavirus, Current Affairs, Election, Health Care, History, Holidays, Jewish Education, Justice, Leadership, Parashat Hashavua, Pekudei, Prayer, Shabbat, Shabbat Hachodesh, Spirituality, Synagogue, Temple Beth Abraham, Torah, Tzedek, USA, Vayakhel, Web/Tech, Youth
March 11, 2010

Vayakhel/Pekudei and Shabbat HaChodesh: Ending and Beginning

This week, we read in the Torah about completions — and preparations. We are finishing up the book of Shmot (Exodus). Chazak chazak v’nitchazek — Be strong, be strong, may we strengthen each other! Shmot began with bursting-out and disorder. The Children of Israel expanding at an expontential rate, then the beginning of slavery. As… Continue reading

Parashat Hashavua, Pekudei, Pesach, Shabbat Hachodesh, Vayakhel

Shabbat Hachodesh

Breadman, and What Rising Bread Taught Me About Our Inflated Selves

Rechavia, Sabba Moshe, and the Night Before Leaving Egypt: A Midrash

A Year in the Desert — Reflections One Year Later

Vayakhel/Pekudei and Shabbat HaChodesh: Ending and Beginning