Gimme Some Torah

Every issue

Rabbi Eli Garfinkel has published 989 of these. He writes a short d'var Torah most days, and has done for years — this is the whole run, newest first, with what each one is about.

His columns are free for the first few weeks and then move behind his paywall. We mirror 32 of them in full here — the ones that were free at the time we picked them up. The other 957 are his subscribers'. Every title below links to his Substack, where the whole archive lives.

Subscribe to Gimme Some Torah →

2026 126 issues

#1006Oct 9Immortality Is a Stupid Goal read it hereMy Yizkor Sermon for Yom Kippur, 5787/2026
#1005Oct 7October 7th and the First Murder read it hereMidrash Tanḥuma on ּBereshit/Genesis 4:10
#1004Oct 7Is AI Created in the Image of God?read it hereSforno on Parashat Bereshit, Bereshit/Genesis 1:27
#1003Sep 25Why Do They Hate Us?read it hereMy sermon from Yom Kippur Kol Nidre
#1002Sep 18Transactions read it hereMy sermon for the second day of Rosh Hashanah, 5787/2026
#1001Sep 16Burnout read it hereMy sermon for the first day of Rosh Hashanah
#1000Sep 3Those Who Can Teach read it hereAvodat Yisrael on Devarim/Deuteronomy 31:2
#999Sep 2The Creation of Repentance read it hereA D’var Torah for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
#998Sep 1Searching for Books read it hereR. Shlomo Zalman on Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:12–13
#997Aug 28What Does the Sound of the Shofar Mean?read it hereLord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Bamidbar/Numbers 29:1
#996Aug 27Make It Louder!read it hereBekhor Shor on Devarim/Deuteronomy 26:5
#995Aug 19The Donkey and Its Owner read it hereNoam Elimelekh on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 22:4
#994Aug 18Murder Clothes read it hereHizkuni on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 22:11
#993Aug 17Don't Be Asinine read it hereMaor VaShemesh on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 22:10
#992Aug 14Justice and Mercy read it hereA sermon from my vault for Parashat Shoftim
#991Aug 13A Murder Without Two Witnesses read it hereTalmud on Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:6
#990Aug 12The Jews Choose Hebrew read it hereTalmud on Parashat Shoftim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:18
#989Aug 11Personnel Is More Than Policy read it hereTalmud on Parashat Shoftim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:1
#988Aug 10Don't Be Naive read it hereMy sermon from this past Shabbat
#987Aug 7The Parable of the Fur Coat read it hereMaggid of Dubno on Devarim/Deuteronomy 11:26-27
#986Aug 6The Location of Jewish Life read it hereA D'var Torah for Parashat Re'eh
#985Aug 5Regret Is Easy, Repentance is Hard read it hereYismaḥ Moshe on Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:8
#984Aug 4Blessings and Curses Can Mix read it hereA D'var Torah for Parashat Re'eh
#983Jul 31A Blessed People read it hereYerushalmi Talmud on Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:14
#982Jul 30The Cantorial Candidate read it hereA story relevant to Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:12
#981Jul 29Underestimating Arrogance read it hereEin Yaakov on Parashat Eike, Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:26
#980Jul 28Thirteen Reasons to Eat Breakfast read it hereEin Yaakov on Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:15
#979Jul 27A Letter to Mayor Mamdani read it hereMy sermon from this past Shabbat
#978Jul 22The Third Temple Is a Metaphor read it hereA D'var Torah about Tisha B'Av in the modern world
#977Jul 21A Jewish Child in a Roman Prison read it hereEikhah Rabbah on Eikhah/Lamentations 4:2
#976Jul 20The Wisdom That Was Lost read it hereEikhah Rabbah on Eikhah/Lamentations 1:4
#975Jul 17Anti-Jewish Hatred is UnforgivableEikhah Rabbah on Eikhah/Lamentations 1:11
#974Jul 16The Only Winning Move Is Not to PlayEikhah Rabbah on Eikhah/Lamentations 3:58-60
#973Jul 15Trouble, Burden, and BickeringDevarim Rabbah on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:12
#972Jul 14The Anger BoxA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:16
#971Jul 13Justice is BlindA Mussar story relevant to Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:17
#970Jul 10An Exaggerated WarBirkat Asher on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 31:7
#969Jul 9Angry PlacesMei Shiloaḥ on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 33:1
#968Jul 8Life's JourneysBaal Shem Tov on Bamidbar/Numbers 33:1
#967Jul 7Don't Even Think of Taking an OathBamidbar Rabbah on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 30:3
#966Jul 6America and the Hebrew BibleA sermon in honor of America's 250th birthday
#938May 26Learn to Leave Things AloneA D'var Torah for Parashat Naso
#937May 25Bronze Age TherapyIbn Ezra on Parashat Nasso, ּBamidar/Numbers 6:2
#936May 21Exit Off the Bad Decision HighwayFrom Midrash Aseret HaDibbrot
#935May 20Speak Like an EgyptianMidrash Aseret Hadibbrot on Shemot/Exodus 20:2
#934May 19What's Shavuot? Chopped Liver?A D'var Torah about Shavuot
#933May 14You're Not a HelicopterBamidbar Rabbah 2:8 on Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 2:2
#932May 13Starting a LegacyA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 1:18
#931May 12What Is a Midbar?A D'var Torah on Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 1:1
#930May 11How to Fix HealthcareMy sermon from this past Shabbat
#929May 8Give Credit Where Credit Is DueRashi on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:36
#928May 7Delaying TzedakahRashi on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:26
#927May 6We Actually Own NothingRashi on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:23
#926May 5Two Trees Planted by the WaterA D'var Torah for this week's Haftarah
#925May 4Are We Cooking With Gas or Just Cooked?Ibn Ezra on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:26
#924May 1Judaism Isn't a Choose Your Own AdventureA D'var Torah about Pesah Sheni and Bamidbar/Numbers 9:13
#923Apr 30Time Zones and ShabbatSforno on Parshat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 23:3
#922Apr 29The Root Causes FallacyA D'var Torah for Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 24:11
#921Apr 28A Shockable RhythmSifra on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 24:11
#920Apr 27The Thousand Dollar FishBereishit Rabbah on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 23:29
#919Apr 24Don't Curse YourselfSiftei Kohen on Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:14
#918Apr 23Casual IdolatryRashi on Parashat Aharei-Mot, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:4
#917Apr 22Cursing the DeafRashi on Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:14
#916Apr 21Charity Is Not For Your InstaBekhor Shor on Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:10
#915Apr 20Sins Fit Together Like LegosRashi on Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:11
#914Apr 17Sugar and Spice and Everything NiceTalmud on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Vayikra/Leviticus 12:2
#913Apr 16Gold in the WallsBirkat Asher on Vayikra/Leviticus 14:34
#912Apr 15The Duty to Warn and ComfortTalmud on Vayikra/Leviticus 13:45
#911Apr 13A Bald-Faced TruthA D'var Torah Relevant to Vayikra/Leviticus 13:42
#910Apr 1America and Juniper HillWhat is happening to us?
#909Mar 27Why Israel Is a Happy NationA sermon from my vault for Parashat Tzav, Vayikra/Leviticus 6:6
#908Mar 26The Story of the Four RabbisMaarekhet Heidenheim on the Haggadah
#907Mar 25The Anti-Jewish Ice Cream ParlorA D'var Torah for your seder
#906Mar 24This Is the Bread of StorytellingDivrei Negidim on the Haggadah
#905Mar 23The Learning Never EndsA D'var Torah for your seder
#904Mar 19But What If I Don't Believe in God?A D'var Torah for your Seder
#903Mar 18How Hard Should Jewish Observance Be?Vayikra Rabbah on Parashat Vayikra, Vayikra/Leviticus 1:2
#902Mar 17What’s So Wicked About the Wicked Child?A D'var Torah for your seder
#901Mar 16The Duality of Jewish ExistenceMy sermon for Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei
#900Mar 13The Stations of LifeRashi and Birkat Asher on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei Shemot/Exodus 40:38
#899Mar 12The Mental Aspect of ShabbatBekhor Shor on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 35:4
#898Mar 11The Open Mike Policy In VilnaA story relevant to Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 26:6
#897Mar 10Remembering the LockdownA sermon from my vault for Shabbat HaḤodesh
#896Mar 9Shabbat and Holy WorkSforno on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 35:2
#895Mar 6Dangerous QuestionsRashi on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 32:24
#894Mar 5Is the Truth Dying?Abarbanel on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 30:31-32
#893Mar 4Making Assumptions is MessyTalmud on Esther 6:11-12
#891Mar 2Our Enemies Wear Masks, TooA sermon in anticipation of Purim
#890Feb 27Jewish Jokes and the TorahA combination of Purim Torah and actual Torah
#889Feb 26A Jewish Prayerbook Is a Time MachineTzeil Ha-Eidah on Shemot/Exodus 30:10
#888Feb 25One Weird Trick Dissolves Bad ThoughtsKedushat Levi on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 27:20
#887Feb 24A Lesson from KFC and Coca-ColaA sermon from my vault for Parashat Tetzaveh
#886Feb 23Never Believe Your Own PressA Hasidic story about Parashat Tetzaveh, Vayikra/Leviticus 28:1
#885Feb 20Like Is More Important Than LoveMy New-ish Torah Idea #2
#884Feb 19Math and ScienceA sermon from my vault for Parashat Terumah
#883Feb 18The One Who Sees But Is Not SeenVilna Gaon on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:10
#882Feb 17The Poor Need Their DignityA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Terumah
#881Feb 16We Are Better Than Our EnemiesMy sermon for Parashat Mishpatim
#880Feb 13How Much Is a Second Chance Worth?Shemot Rabbah on Parashat Shemot/Exodus 24:7
#879Feb 12The Kosher Meat Scandal in SepphorisVayikra Rabbah on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 22:30
#878Feb 11The Weak Are Not the ProblemRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 22:21
#877Feb 10Lying Is a Kind of TheftKelemer Maggid on Shemot/Exodus 23:8
#876Feb 9The Parable of the Stone ThrowerTalmud on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 21:33
#875Feb 6About Nancy GuthrieRashi on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 20:13
#874Feb 5Forgive, Judge, and Option 3A New-ish Torah Idea
#873Feb 4Escaping the Ego TrapKotsker Rebbe on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 18:21
#872Feb 3First, Don't Make Things WorseRashi on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 18:2
#871Feb 2Taking the Bling out of GamblingMy sermon for Parashat Beshallah
#870Jan 30Hidden TreasureShemot Rabbah on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 13:17
#869Jan 29Miracles in JudaismA sermon for Parashat Beshallah
#868Jan 28Armed or Excited?Rashi on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 13:18
#867Jan 27Goodness is GradualTalmud on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 13:22
#866Jan 26My Sermon About ICEA sermon for Parashat Bo
#865Jan 23Telling the StoryBirkat Asher on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 10:2
#864Jan 22CrumblingHizkuni on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 10:7
#863Jan 21Seeing Light in the DarkRashi on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 12:2
#862Jan 20My Annual Dr. Martin Luther King SpeechMy address for the Franklin Township Martin Luther King Community Breakfast
#861Jan 19One Day, the Fear Will DisappearBekhor Shor on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 11:7
#860Jan 16Did Moses Carry Coals to Newcastle?Shemot Rabbah on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 7:11
#859Jan 9Moses for the Three-Pointer!Tzror Hamor on Parshat Shemot/Exodus 2:17
#858Jan 8Does G-d Take Credit Cards?Kedushat Levi on Parashat Shemot/Exodus 2:25
#857Jan 7Can It Be Good to Be Judgmental?Rashi on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 2:14
#856Jan 6How Much Do We Change?Rashi on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:5
#855Jan 5They Don't Know JosephMy sermon for Vayehi
#854Jan 2Mortality Is RealityMidrash Kohelet Rabbah on Parashat Vayehi, Bereshit/Genesis 49:33
#853Jan 1Wickedness Is Not in Your DNASforno on Parashat Vayehi, Bereshit/Genesis 48:16

2025 222 issues

#852Dec 31The First SicknessA sermon for Parashat Vayehi
#851Dec 30Larger Than LifeTalmud on Parashat Vayehi, Bereshit/Genesis 49:33
#850Dec 29Guys, Real Men Don't OgleMidrash Yalkut Shimoni on Parashat Bereshit/Genesis 49:22
#849Dec 26Control Your AngerA sermon from my vault for Parashat Vayigash
#848Dec 25The First Jewish CommunityMalbim on Parashat Bereshit/Genesis 45:10
#847Dec 24Can a Ruler Be a Righteous Person?Kotzker Rebbeon Parashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:26
#846Dec 23Never Give Up HopeMei HaShiloah on Parashat Vayigash, Bereishit/Genesis 45:4-5
#845Dec 22Our Cultural Immune SystemMy Shabbat Hanukkah Sermon
#844Dec 19Humiliation is a WeaponA D'var Torah for Hanukkah
#843Dec 18Light Breaks Through the DarknessA D'var Torah for Hanukkah
#842Dec 17Miracles Need to MarinateA D'var Torah for Hanukkah
#841Dec 16Hanukkah in a Time of DangerA D'var Torah for Hanukkah
#840Dec 15Hanukkah Celebrates Rabbinic JudaismMy sermon this past Shabbat
#839Dec 12Hanukkah Is A Cheesy HolidayA D'var Torah for Hanukkah. Don't forget to like (❤️) and subscribe!
#838Dec 11It's the Hebrew Bible, Not the Old TestamentAbarbanel on the Haftarah for Parashat Vayeshev, Amos 2:6-3:8
#837Dec 10Making Others Do the Dirty WorkRashbam on Bereshit/Genesis 37:24, 26-27
#836Dec 9Where Are You Going?Kotzker Rebbe on Bereshit/Genesis 37:15
#835Dec 8The Problem with ComfortBereishit Rabbah on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:1
#834Dec 5In Praise of Shimon and LeviRashi, Or HaHayim, and Abarbanel on Parashat Vayishlah, Bereshit/Genesis 34:25
#833Dec 4A Donkey and an Ox Walk Into a BarMidrash Tanhuma on Parashat Vayishlah, Bereshit/Genesis 34:11
#832Dec 3Alone and Together at the Same TimeR. Moshe Avigdor Amiel on Parashat Vayishlah, Bereshit/Genesis 32:25
#831Dec 2When Good and Evil MixA sermon for Parashat Vayishlah
#830Dec 1Not Worth the WorryA sermon for Parashat Vayishlah
#829Nov 27Why Didn't Jacob Bring a Pillow?Anonymous answers: Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 28:11
#828Nov 26Clothes to Eat or Clothes to Wear?A Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 28:20
#827Nov 25Beware of DeceptionRashi on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 29:18
#826Nov 24Always Be Open to LearningHibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 28:16
#825Nov 21The Mind of the Trophy HunterKli Yakar on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:27
#824Nov 20Esau the TricksterMidrash Rabbah on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:27
#823Nov 19The Womb Where It HappenedBereishit Rabbah on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:22
#822Nov 18ResentmentMidrash on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 27:41
#821Nov 17Wisdom Is PerishableA sermon about King Solomon
#820Nov 14Abraham's Eulogy for SarahA D'var Torah relevant to Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 23:2
#819Nov 13You Only Get One ShotHibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereshit/Genesis 24:8
#818Nov 12Was Abraham's Servant Eliezer?Midrash on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 24:2
#817Nov 11Was Eliezer Manifesting?Sforno on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 24:14
#816Nov 10Dying Is Getting ExpensiveRashi on Parshat Hayyei Sarah, Bereshit/Genesis 23:16
#815Nov 7A Pillar of SaltA D'var Torah about Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 19:26
#814Nov 6The Straw That Broke the Camel's BackTalmud on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 18:20-21
#813Nov 5One Holy Sandwich, Hold the XenophobiaRashi on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 18:4
#812Nov 4Seeing the GlowKedushat Levi on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 18:2
#811Nov 3A Man's Place Is in the KitchenHibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Vayeira, Bereishit/Genesis
#810Oct 31Is Seeing Believing?Hibbah Yeteirah on Bereishit/Genesis 12:1
#809Oct 30Our Golden Age Is ForeverHaGaon R. Meir Shapiro on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 15:5
#808Oct 29Neither Here nor ThereA D'var Torah about Bereishit/Genesis 12:1
#807Oct 28The Torah Is Filled with ZionismA Hasidic teaching about Bereshit/Genesis 12:1
#806Oct 27When to Accept CriticismTalmud on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 16:8
#805Oct 24What's Wrong with Worldwide Love?Midrash Rabbah on Bereishit/Genesis 11:1
#804Oct 23Bricks or People?Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer on Bereshit/Genesis 11:3
#803Oct 22The World Is Not All You Can EatA Hasidic teaching about gluttony
#802Oct 21A Disastrous House PartyLegends of the Jews on Bereshit/Genesis 9:20
#801Oct 20Real Speech vs. GibberishMei Hashiloah on Bereshit/Genesis 11:1
#800Oct 17Why Did Cain Kill Abel?Midrash Lekah Tov on Bereishit/Genesis 4:8
#799Oct 10Jonah's Stages of GriefMy Yizkor sermon for Yom Kippur 5786/2025
#798Oct 6To AI Or Not to AIMy Yom Kippur Kol Nidre sermon on artificial intelligence
#797Sep 30How Big Was Nineveh?Sefer Yonah, the Haftarah for the afternoon of Yom Kippur
#794Sep 17Two Kinds of ArroganceTalmud on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:12
#793Sep 16Private and PublicRamban on Parashat Netizvim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 29:28
#792Sep 15Cyberspace Is a CountryMy sermon about Parashat Ki Tavo and the assassination of Charlie Kirk
#792Sep 12We're Going InsaneNetziv on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:34
#791Sep 11Twenty-four YearsMy speech at the Franklin Township 9-11 Memorial Service
#790Sep 9Two Kinds of ForgettingS'fat Emet on Devarim/Deuteronomy 27:13
#789Sep 8Vaccines are MandatoryMy sermon from this past Shabbat
#788Sep 5The Unmarried Torah ScholarA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 24:1
#787Sep 4Kindness During an EmergencyHizkuni on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 22:1
#786Sep 3May We Delay a Burial?Talmud on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 21:23
#785Sep 2Making Life Less CruelA D'var Torah about Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 21:11
#784Sep 1An Interesting QuestionA Jewish story relevant to Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:21
#783Aug 29The Knapsack and the Walking StickA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Shoftim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:19
#782Aug 28We Are Surrounded by MiraclesA D'var Torah in preparation for Rosh Hashanah
#781Aug 27Bad Leaders Are a SymptomHibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Shoftim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:18
#780Aug 26Bribes Cause Moral BlindnessTalmud on Parashat Shoftim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:19
#779Aug 25What If the Judge Is Lying?HaK'tav v'HaKabbalah on Parashat Shoftim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:11
#778Aug 22Feel-Good CharityA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 15:8
#777Aug 21Weird WorshipSforno on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:30
#776Aug 20The Butcher with Shaky HandsA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:21
#775Aug 19The Lying Butcher of ChernobylA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:21
#774Aug 18Some Things Really Are Black and WhiteSforno on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 11:26
#773Aug 15The Wicked TeacherA Hasidic story relevant to Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:19
#772Aug 14The Drive for Career SuccessR. Levi of Berditchev on Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:17
#771Aug 13Europe's Stiff NeckSforno on Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 9:6
#770Aug 12Is Humility a Commandment?Baal Shem Tov on Parshat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:14
#769Aug 11The Rich Man Who Was Actually PoorA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:13
#768Aug 8Is Monotheism Really Better?Some ideas relevant to Parashat Vaethanan, Devarim/Deuteronomy 6:4
#767Aug 7The Jews Love TruthA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Vaethanan, Devarim/Deuteronomy 5:11
#766Aug 6The Heart CountsIbn Ezra on Parashat Vaethanan, Devarim/Deuteronomy 5:18
#765Aug 5Accepting RealityOr HaHayim on Parashat Vaethanan, Devarim/Deuteronomy 3:27
#764Aug 1The American PogromA D'var Torah for the Nine Days
#763Jul 31The Kishinev PogromA D'var Torah for the Nine Days
#762Jul 30The St. Valentine's Day MassacreA d'var Torah for the nine days of Av
#761Jul 29The York PogromA D'var Torah for the Nine Days
#760Jul 28The Holocaust Reached IraqA D'var Torah for the Nine Days
#759Jul 25A Jew Should Never VowMareh Yehezkel on Bamidbar/Numbers 30:3
#758Jul 24The Sanhedrin SurvivedTalmud on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 35:29
#757Jul 23We Are All RefugeesBamidbar Rabbah on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 35:11
#756Jul 22God and People vs. People and GodA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 32:22
#755Jul 21Jewelry for AtonementTalmud on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 31:50
#754Jul 18Jerusalem Cleanses the SoulBamidbar Rabbah on Parashat Pinhas, Bamidbar/Numbers 28:4
#753Jul 17A Broken Heart Opens the GateA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Pinhas, Bamidbar/Numbers
#752Jul 16The Role of Luck in LifeTalmud on Parashat Pinhas, Bamidbar/Numbers 26:55
#751Jul 15The Severed Letter VavB. Kiddushin on Parashat Pinhas, Bamidbar/Numbers 25:12
#750Jul 14Sinful ThoughtsR. Elimelekh of Lizhensk on Parashat Pinhas, Bamidbar/Numbers 25:17-18
#749Jul 11Bilaam the ConsultantBamidbar Rabbah on Bamdibar/Numbers 22:29
#748Jul 10Irrational HatredAnonymous source on Bamidbar/Numbers 22:6
#747Jul 9It Takes Two to TangoMidrash Rabbah on Bamidbar/Numbers 23:1
#746Jul 8Rescuing the Disgraced StudentA Hasidic story relevant to Bamidbar/Numbers 24:11
#745Jul 7Humiliating BilaamRashi on Bamidbar/Numbers 22:30
#744Jul 4How Much Anger Is Kosher?Rozhiner Rebbe on Parashat Hukkat, Bamidbar/Numbers 20:11
#743Jul 3StupidityA sermon about stupidity
#742Jul 2Mourning for MiriamKli Yakar on Bamidbar/Numbers 20:2
#741Jul 1A Community Responds to TraumaRashi on Parashat Bereshit, Bereshit/Genesis 4:2
#740Jun 30Ends and MeansRashi on Parashat Hukkat, Bamidbar/Numbers 20:11
#739Jun 27The New Month of TammuzA D'var Torah About the Month of Tammuz
#738Jun 26Unjustified AngerSforno on Bamidbar/Numbers 16:15
#737Jun 25A Schism in PremishlanA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Korah, Bamidbar/Numberss 16:6
#736Jun 24Break Glass In EmergencyRashi and Sforno on Parashat Korah, Bamidbar/Numbers 17:13
#735Jun 23Uncomfortable GratitudeMy thoughts about the bombing
#734Jun 20The Worms Come In, the Worms Come Out. ..Rashi on Parashat Shelah, Bamidbar/Numbers 14:37
#733Jun 19Why Are There So Few Jews?Rashi on Parashat Shelah, Bamidbar/Numbers 13:18
#732Jun 18Changing Your Mind Is Not Flip-FloppingTalmud on Parashat Shelah, Bamidbar/Numbers 14:24
#732Jun 17Joshua's Name ChangeA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Shelah, Bamidbar/Numbers 13:16
#731Jun 16Iran Has A Bill To PayA sermon relevant to Zekhariah 4:6
#730Jun 13Supporting Our Grown ChildrenA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Behaalotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 11:13-14
#729Jun 12You Can't Hate Jews and Love GodRashi on Parashat Behaalotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 10:35
#728Jun 11Why Did Moses Have Difficulty Making the Menorah?A Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Behaalotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 8:4
#727Jun 10Three Beautiful WordsSifre Bamidbar on Parashat Behaaklotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 8:4
#726Jun 9Three Kinds of LoveBerditchever Rebbe on Bamidbar/Numbers 8:2
#725Jun 6Girls Are Awesome!Da'at Zekenim on Parashat Nasso, Bamidbar/Numbers 6:24
#724Jun 5Everyone Has to ConfessOr HaHayim on Parshat Nasso, Bamidbar/Numbers 5:7
#723May 30You Have to Say WhenSefat Emet on Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 1:1
#722May 29Keep Your DistanceHakhsharat Haavreikhim on Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 2:2
#721May 28Birds of a FeatherRashi on Parashat Bemidbar, Bemidbar/Numbers 3:38
#720May 27Arguing Over FactsSforno on Parashat Bemidbar, Bemidbar/Numbers 1:4
#719May 26The Gaslighting Must StopA sermon about the movement to gaslight the Jewish people
#718May 23A Horrible CursePardes Yosef on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:29
#717May 22Don't Oppress YourselfKotsker Rebbe on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17
#716May 21Saintly SinRimonover Rebbe on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:14, 17
#714May 20Doing Torah vs. Studying TorahVayikra Rabbah on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:3
#713May 19Exploiting Space, Time, and PeopleMei HaShiloah on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:2
#712May 16Capital Punishment for Terrorists?Bekhor Shor on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 24:12
#711May 15The Desire to BelongRashi and Mei Shiloah on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 24:10
#710May 14How You Doin'?
#709May 13Desecration of the Holy NameRashi on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 22:32
#708May 12Why Is It Called Yom HaKippurim?HaKetav VeHakabbalah on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 23:27
#707May 9No Copying!A D'var Torah relevant to Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 18:3
#706May 8Second Century Parenting AdviceMidrash on Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 17:5
#705May 7Your Attention, Please!A D’var Torah about Pirkei Avot 3:7
#704May 6Cherish Every MinuteVayikra Rabbah on Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 16:1
#703May 2Gossip Makes People SickTalmud on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Vayikra/Leviticus 14:2
#702May 1Purity Grows From ImpurityShnei Luhot HaB'rit on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Leviticus/Vayikra 13:2
#701Apr 30Impure, Impure!Talmud on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Vayikra/Leviticus 13:45
#700Apr 29Pay Five Trillion and Call Me in the MorningParashat Tazria-Metsora and America's Healthcare Crisis
#699Apr 28Yay, It’s Leprosy Time!A sermon about Parashat Tazria-Metzora
#698Apr 25Why Did Nadav and Avihu Die?Prof. Ed Greenstein on Parashat Shemini and its Haftarah
#697Apr 24We Cannot Afford SilenceA D'var Torah for Yom HaShoah on Parashat Shemini, Leviticus/Vayikra 10:3
#696Apr 23The Most Important WordḤizkuni on Parashat Shemini, Vayikra/Leviticus 10:1
#695Apr 22Argument from AuthorityRashi on Parashat Shemini, Vayikra/Leviticus 9:1
#694Apr 10Our Special Kind of BitternessA D'var Torah for your Seder
#693Apr 9The Four Sons Live in Our HeartsDiscussion Material for your Seder
#692Apr 8What Is Wise about the Wise Son?Discussion material for your Seder
#691Apr 7Does Anything Shock Us Anymore?Discussion material for your Passover Seder
#690Apr 4What's the Wicked Son's Deal?Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (זצ׳׳ל) on the Haggadah
#689Apr 3What Does It Mean to Be Chosen?Vayikra Rabbah on Parashat Vayikra, Vayikra/Leviticus
#688Apr 2A Little Is the Same as a LotVayikra Rabbah on Parashat Vaykira, Vayikra/Shemot 2:1
#687Apr 1How Can Foolishness Be Precious?Vayikra Rabbah on Parashat Vayikra, Vayikra/Leviticus 1:2
#686Mar 31Be AuthenticRashi on Parashat Vayikra, Vayikra/Leviticus 1:2
#685Mar 28Mirror, Mirror on the WallRashi on Parashat Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 38:8
#684Mar 27The Hostages and Your SederA D'var Torah for Your Seder
#683Mar 26The Most Important Part of the SederA D'var Torah for your Seder
#682Mar 25What Did Moses Look Like?Midrash Tanhuma, Parashat Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 38:21
#681Mar 24SupersessionismMidrash Lekah Tov on Parashat Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 38:21
#680Mar 21A House on FireA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:3
#679Mar 20If You Want Something Done Right. . .HaKetav v'Hakabbalah on Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:25
#678Mar 19Better a Live Dog than Dead LionMidrash Ruth Rabbah on Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:1
#677Mar 18Guys, Don't Try This at Home!A Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:33
#676Mar 17Judaism Requires CommunityYalkut Shimoni on Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:1
#675Mar 14More Purim Fun!Satire for Purim
#674Mar 13Elon Musk Meets God🤡 🤡 🤡
#673Mar 12Why A Fiery Shekel?Rashi on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 30:13
#672Mar 11Inside the Evil EyeRashi on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 30:12
#671Mar 10Reversible TabletsA Hasidic Story relevant to Shemot/Exodus 32:15
#670Mar 4Introverts and ExtrovertsR. Merel of Przmyslan on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:1
#669Mar 3Sacred ArtWhy did our ancestors need a beautiful Mishkan?
#668Feb 28The Miser and the MirrorA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:3
#666Feb 27A Temple of TimeHizkuni on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:8
#665Feb 26Distant RelativesA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Terumah
#664Feb 25Should Our Taxes Be Voluntary?Malbim on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:2
#663Feb 24Does Everything Belong to God?Hatam Sofer on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:2
#662Feb 21Innocent and IncarceratedRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 23:7
#661Feb 20You Are the Poor PersonRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 22:24
#660Feb 19Protect the WeakRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 22:21
#659Feb 18The Fifth and Sixth BooksA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Mishpatim
#658Feb 17Equal JusticeRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 23:3
#657Feb 14Idle Words are LethalAgra DeKala on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 20:13
#656Feb 13Taking a Bullet for DadMidrash Aseret HaDibbrot on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 20:12
#655Feb 12The Rabbi's Failed Book TourA Hasidic story relevant to Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 19:5
#654Feb 11You Can't Do It AllSforno on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 18:18
#653Feb 10Yitro's SacrificeOr HaHayim on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 18:1
#652Feb 7The Rabbi's BodegaA story about Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 16:16
#651Feb 5The World of ThoughtBaal Shem Tov on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 14:15
#650Feb 4Definitions MatterBirkat Asher on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 14:5
#649Feb 3Should Converting to Judaism Be Easier?Talmud on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 13:21
#648Jan 31Two Kinds of TomorrowRashi on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 13:14
#647Jan 30Moral DarknessR. Hanokh of Aleksandr on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 10:23
#646Jan 29Egypt and ChernobylHizkuni on Parshat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 10:7
#645Jan 28Unkosher TefillinA Hasidic Story about Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 13
#644Jan 27Ho’oponoponoA speech I gave today about reconciliation
#643Jan 24Can the Elderly Be Revolutionary?A story relevant to Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 7:7
#642Jan 23The Kids Have Magic PracticeMidrash Rabbah on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 7:11
#641Jan 22Knowing What Not to SayA story relevant to Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 6:12
#640Jan 21Remember, Even the King Does ItRashi on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 7:15
#639Jan 20Romi, Doron, and EmilyRamban on Parashat Va-era, Shemot/Exodus 6:6
#638Jan 17My Take on the Hostage DealRashi on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 2:3
#637Jan 16Useless LaborTalmud on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:11
#636Jan 15Again with the Lies about Money!Beit HaLevi on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:9-10
#635Jan 9Rabbi, Your Prayer Didn't Work!A Story for Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 48:1
#634Jan 8Some Problems Have Simple SolutionsA Story for Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 50:13
#633Jan 7The Rabbi Who Died JoyfullyA Story for Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 47:28
#632Jan 6Feeling Guilty about the PastRashi on Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 48:7
#631Jan 3CompassionRashi on Parashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:1
#630Jan 2Don't Punish YourselfNetziv on Parashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:5
#629Jan 1Was the Nuclear Family a Mistake?Malbim on Bereshit/Genesis 45:10

2024 217 issues

#628Dec 31What Is a Mistake?Bereshit/Genesis 44:30
#627Dec 30Living DangerouslyShulhan Arukh OH 671:5
#626Dec 27Eight to One or One to Eight?Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai on the proper way to light the menorah
#625Dec 26Even the Poor Must Light a MenorahShulhan Arukh OH 671:1 on the Laws of Hanukkah
#624Dec 25Why Didn't Joseph Write Home?A D'var Torah for Mikketz
#623Dec 24The Good Kind of ForgettingBirkat Asher on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:51
#622Dec 23Nine Missed MealsNetziv on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:30-31
#621Dec 20Chattering MouthsStories relevant to Parashat Vayeshev
#620Dec 19In for a Dime, in for a DollarRamban on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:18
#619Dec 18Points for Honesty?Rashi on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:4
#618Dec 17How Much Does Our Intent Count?Birkat Asher on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:3
#617Dec 16Do Snitches Get Stitches?Rashi on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:2
#616Dec 6Why Steal Idols?Rashi and Ḥizkuni on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 31:19
#615Dec 5Muscular JewsRashi on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 29:10
#614Dec 4What Kind of Kiss?HaKetav v'HaKabbalah on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 29:11
#613Dec 3Study and Prayer Go TogetherMaor VaShemesh on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 28:16
#612Dec 2Ladder, Stairs, or Ramp?A D'var Torah for Parashat Vayetze
#611Nov 29Esau Felt EmbarrassedBeit HaLevi on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:30
#610Nov 28Is Red a Jewish Color?Rashi on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:25
#609Nov 27Proof Is Never EnoughRashi on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:19
#608Nov 26Why Did Isaac Favor Esau?Ben Ish Ḥai on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:28
#607Nov 25Meaning of Hebrew UncertainRamban on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:22
#606Nov 15The Ram in the ThicketBereshit Rabbah on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 22:13
#605Nov 14The Worst Kids EverRashi on Parashat Vayera, Berershit/Genesis 19:11
#604Nov 13Lot Was A Terrible PersonRamban on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 19:8
#603Nov 12One Size Does Not Fit AllParashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 18:20
#602Nov 11Abraham and AmsterdamBartenura on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 18:7
#601Nov 8What Does 'God Appeared' Mean?Ramban on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 12:7
#600Nov 7The Lesson of Snickers BarsRashi on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 13:12-13
#599Nov 6Abraham Makes EnemiesḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 12:3
#598Nov 5Location, Location, LocationBereshit Rabbah on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 12:1
#597Nov 4Good Advice Is a Form of CharityBereshit Rabbah on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 12:3
#596Nov 1Why Did Noah Get Drunk?Midrashim on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 9:21
#595Oct 31Diversity of OpinionY'feh Toar on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 11:1
#594Oct 30The Downside of a Great EconomyMidrashim about the Tower of Babel
#593Oct 29Snakes on a Plane, Demons on an ArkRashi on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 6:19
#592Oct 28Noah Phases and Abraham PhasesRashi on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 6:14
#591Oct 22The Cycle Begins AgainḤizkuni on Parashat Bereshit, Bereshit/Genesis 2:8
#590Oct 21Mourning and PerspectiveMy Yom Kippur Yizkor sermon
#589Oct 16We Have Sinned Against YouMy Yom Kippur Kol Nidre sermon
#588Oct 15Judaism Is a Religion of LifeMy sermon for the second day of Rosh Hashanah
#587Oct 14Good News From IsraelMy first day Rosh Hashanah sermon
#586Sep 27Be Loud and Proud!R. Moshe Amiel on Nitzavim-Vayeileikh, Devarim/Deut. 29:28
#585Sep 26The Torah Has No Cloud BackupB. Temurah 16a on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeileikh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:12
#584Sep 25Two Types of People Have No TorahTorah Temimah on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeileikh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:12
#583Sep 24Good for Goodness SakeKli Yakar on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeileikh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:15
#582Sep 23Imagined ImmunityḤizkuni on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 29:18
#581Sep 20The Man Who Was Happy to DieKotsker Rebbe on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:47
#580Sep 19Searching for SinsR. Mordekhai Elyashberg on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:21
#579Sep 18We Are the World's TorchShadal on Haftarat Ki Tavo, Isaiah 60:3
#578Sep 17Between Death and BurialRashi on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 26:14
#577Sep 16Turn Off the AutopilotS'fat Emet on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 26:13
#576Sep 13A Eulogy for My DadIn memory of Dr. Alan Garfinkel, 1941-2024
#575Sep 12Vicious Dogs and Broken LaddersTalmud on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuterononomy 22:8
#574Sep 3A D'var Torah for HershIbn Ezra on Parashat Shoftim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 20:7
#573Sep 2War of the WordsA sermon for Haftarat Shoftim, Isaiah 51:12 - 52:12
#572Aug 30Doing What Is Good and RightRashi on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:28
#571Aug 29People Are Not DisposableRashi on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:31
#570Aug 28Dream Like a JewThe Kotsker Rebbe on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 13:2
#569Aug 27What to Do for the Formerly RichRashi on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 15:7-8
#568Aug 26Our Shemini Atzeret DilemmaRashi on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:15
#567Aug 23Hostages of the TyrantsRadak on Haftarat Ekev, Isaiah 49:24-25
#566Aug 22What's The Meaning of Life?Bekhor Shor on Parashat Ekev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:3
#565Aug 21Weaponized WaspsRashi on Parashat Ekev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:20
#564Aug 20The Wild Beast WithinRecanati on Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:22
#563Aug 19An Ancient Version of Speed Dating?Kol Bo on the 15th of Av
#562Aug 16Diversity and Jewish RitualRashi on Parashat Vaetḥanan, Devarim/Deuteronomy 4:2
#561Aug 15Seeing a SoundHaK'tav v'Hakabbalah on Parashat Vaetḥanan, Deuteronomy/Devarim 4:12
#560Aug 13Just Being Strong Is Not A PlanB. Gittin 56a on the Zealots
#559Aug 12Should We Blame God for Hamas?Eikhah Rabbah on Lamentations/Eikah 3:37
#558Aug 9Why Do Good People Suffer?Kol Dodi Dofek on the question of theodicy
#557Aug 8Rebuke Shortly Before DeathSifrei Devarim on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:3
#556Aug 7When To Say "It Is What It Is"Netziv on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:28
#555Aug 6Don't Be Too PassiveRashi on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:13
#554Aug 5How Hard Is It To Be a Judge?Rashi on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:9
#553Aug 2Nature or Nurture?Rashi on the Second Haftarah of Admonition
#552Aug 1Gobsmacking StupidityMalbim on the Second Haftarah of Admonition
#551Jul 31Rescuing Cringey VersesDid B'nai Yisrael actually wipe out the Midianite women?
#550Jul 30Don't Dwell On Your DeathRashi on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bamidbar/Numbers 31:2-3
#549Jul 29Rabbinical Students: Go To Minyan!A teshuvah (legal responsum) that quotes this week's haftarah
#548Jul 26Jews In Name OnlyRashi on Haftarat Pinḥas, Jeremiah 1:5
#547Jul 25Pinḥas and Defending ZionismRashi on Parashat Pinḥas, Bamidbar/Numbers 25:12
#546Jul 24Break Two Tablets and Call Me in the MorningM. Tamid 4:6
#545Jul 23The Day That Normalcy DiedM. Ta'anit 4:6
#544Jul 22Getting Angry at GodTalmud on Parashat PInḥas, Bamidbar/Numbers 25:11
#543Jul 19Better Than We DeserveRashi on Parashat Balak, Bamidbar/Numbers 23:8
#542Jul 18Hacking GodBirkat Asher on Parashat Balak, Bamidbar/Numbers 22:18
#541Jul 17Thanks, But We're Already BlessedRashi on Parashat Balak, Bamidbar/Numbers 22:12
#540Jul 16Caution Is A Jewish ValueA reaction to the attempted assassination of former President Trump
#539Jul 15Life Is Good, Not FairA D'var Torah about Moses and the Rock
#538Jul 12The Torah's PrivacyRashi on Parashat Ḥukkat, Bamidbar/Numbers 19:2
#537Jul 11Is Anything Good?Rashi on Parashat Ḥukkat, Bamidbar/Numbers 21:9
#536Jul 10Clouds of Glory, Clouds of LoveRuzhiner Rebbe on Parashat Ḥukkat, Bamidbar/Numbers 21:1
#535Jul 9Frustration Is Not a Game PlanRashi on Parashat Ḥukkat, Bamidbar/Numbers 20:11
#534Jul 8What's So Bad About Hitting a Rock?A D’var Torah for Parashat Ḥukkat
#533Jul 5Be Careful What You ThinkRamban on Parashat Koraḥ, Bamidbar/Numbers 16:32
#532Jul 4Jews, Nerds, Bullies, and July 4thRashi on Parashat Koraḥ, Bamidbar/Numbers 16:19
#531Jul 3Gigantic LiesMidrash Lekaḥ Tov on Parashat Koraḥ, Bamidbar/Numbers 16:13
#530Jul 2Protesting the UnchangeableMidrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Koraḥ, Bamidbar/Numbers 16:1
#529Jul 1My Reaction to the DebateA sermon connecting Shelaḥ Lekha with the presidential debate
#528Jun 28A Grain of Truth, A Grain of SaltRashi on Parashat Shelaḥ Lekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 13:27
#527Jun 27Have You Had Too Much to Think?Peninei Torah on Parashat Shelaḥ Lekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 15:40
#526Jun 26The Special CocktailḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Shelaḥ Lekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 14:4
#525Jun 25In Praise of Ordinary PeopleRalbag on Haftarat Shelaḥ Lekha, Joshua 2:1
#524Jun 24Why a Sex Worker?Malbim on Haftarat Sh'laḥ Lekha, Joshua 2:1
#523Jun 21Lost and FoundHasidic story about Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 10:25
#522Jun 20Two Different Kinds of FearḤizkuni on Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 10:20
#521Jun 19I Want It Yesterday!Ramban on Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 9:19
#520Jun 18Complainers, Sinners, and MournersBekhor Shor Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 11:1
#519Jun 17Always Check the MirrorRashi on Parashat Behaalotekha, Bamidbar/Numbers 11:1
#518Jun 11Forbidden TranslationsBirkat Asher on Parashat Nasso, Bamidbar/Numbers 6:24-26
#517Jun 10Live Long and ProsperSforno on Parashat Nasso, Bamidbar/Numbers 6:24
#516Jun 7Either a Leader or a Shanda!Kotzker Rebbe on Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 1:2
#515Jun 6Is There Such Thing as a Stupid Question?Ḥatam Sofer on Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 1:2
#514Jun 5Silence in the WildernessMidrash Rabbah on Bamidbar/Numbers 1:1
#513Jun 4How Important Is Your Family Line?R. Moshe Heifetz on Parashat Bemidbar, Numbers/Bemidbar 1:4
#512Jun 3Forever Means ForeverRadak on Hosea 1:2; Rashi on Hosea 2:2
#511May 31The Infantilization of AmericaOr HaḤayim on Parashat Beḥukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:29
#510May 30We All Need PurposeRashi on Parashat Beḥukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:20
#509May 29Unearned RespectSifra on Parashat Beḥukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:26
#508May 28Torah Is A Mt. Everest of the MindRashi on Parashat Beḥukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:3
#507May 27What Killed Rabbi Akiva's Students?A Lag BaOmer Medical Mystery
#506May 24Slavery Is a Plague for EverybodyP'nei Yehoshua on Parashat Behar, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:10
#505May 23Don't Wrong Yourself!Kotsker Rebbe on Parashat Behar, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17
#504May 22The Evil Impulse Loves a CostumeBirkat Asher on Parashat Behar, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17
#503May 21Restart and ResetIbn Ezra on Parashat Behar, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:10
#502May 20StuffA sermon about stuff
#501May 17God Knows What You Stole Last SummerMidrash Rabbah on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 23:40
#500May 16Bullying Can Be FatalMei HaShiloaḥ on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 24:10
#499May 15Happy HornsTalmud on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 23:24
#498May 14What Would Golda Do?A pep talk in honor of Israel's 76th Independence Day
#497May 13Modern BlasphemyHa'amek Davar on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 24:11
#496May 10Telling Lies in front of the TorahA D’var Torah for Parashat Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:11
#495May 9Stage 4 IdolatryRashi on Parashat Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:4
#495May 8What is a Martyr?A D’var Torah for Parashat Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:2
#494May 7Welcome to Hell, Rabbi!A story about Ahavat Yisrael, the commandment to love our fellow Jews
#493May 6The Rabbi Who Hid Ten RublesA Hasidic story about Vayikra/Leviticus 19:18
#492May 3The Lenient Judge and the Strict JudgeHasidic story about Vayikra/Lev. 16:6
#491May 2Two Kinds of EducationRashi on Parashat Aḥarei Mot, Vayikra/Leviticus 16:1
#490Apr 19Leprosy vs. Boils: Let's Get Ready to Rumble!Midrash Aggadah on Parashat Va'Era, Ex. 9:10
#489Apr 18The Hostages and the SederHow do we celebrate Pesaḥ at a time like this?
#488Apr 17Do Jews Complain More?Ephod Bad on Dayenu
#487Apr 16Why Do We Call the Kid Wicked?Add skits to take boredom off your Seder table
#486Apr 15The OJ Trial and LeprosyA sermon about what the OJ trial did to us
#485Apr 12Don't Talk with Your Mouth FullA teaching for your Seder about Rabban Gamliel's Three Things
#484Apr 11Leprosy, AIDS, and COVIDRashi on Parashat Tazria, Vayikra/Leviticus 13:45
#483Apr 10The Power of SlanderVarious midrashim abiyt לְשׁוֹן הָרָע (leshon ha'ra, slander)
#482Apr 9BalanceZera Kodesh on Parashat Tazria, Vayikra/Leviticus 13:2
#481Apr 8Chasing a ShadowThoughts about today's solar eclipse
#480Apr 5The Alcoholic RabbiAn interpretative story for Parashat Shemini, Vayikra/Leviticus 10:9
#479Apr 4When Disaster Meets JoyRashi on Parashat Shemini, Vayikra/Leviticus 10:4
#478Apr 3Sorry, I Totally Forgot!Malbim and Ḥomat Anakh on Haftarat Shemini, II Samuel 6:6-7
#477Apr 2How Is Greatness Measured?R. Joel Sirkis (הב׳׳ח) on Parashat Shemini, Vayikra/Leviticus 10:3
#476Apr 1Who Can Be a Moral Exemplar?R. Simkha Bunim on Parashat Shemini, Vayikra/Leviticus 9:7
#475Mar 29Do Something Weird at Your SederPesaḥim 115b on asking questions at the seder
#474Mar 28Imagine a World Without WorkNetziv on Parashat Tzav, Vayikra/Leviticus 6:6
#473Mar 27Is Courtesy Dying or Changing?Rashi on Parashat Tzav, Vayikra/Leviticus 6:4
#472Mar 26The Squatters In Your BrainVayikra Rabbah on Parashat Tzav, Vayikra/Leviticus 6:18
#471Mar 25Sometimes the Trash Isn't TrashBekhor Shor on Parashat Tsav, Vayikra/Leviticus 6:4
#470Mar 22What I Didn't Know About HamanR. Adin Steinsaltz on Esther 3:13
#469Mar 21Noloyada: The Cure for Moral ConfusionSatirical commerical for Purim
#468Mar 20Fail to the ChiefR. Israel Lipkin of Salant on Parashat Vayikra, Leviticus/Vayikra 4:22-23
#467Mar 19You Don't Get a Parade for Doing Your JobBerditchever Rebbe on Parashat Vayikra, Leviticus/Vayikra 4:2
#466Mar 18Should Religious Leaders Be Trusted?A D'var Torah about hilarious and horrible clergy-fails
#465Mar 15Jewish Jokes Contain the CodePurim humor with a serious filling
#464Mar 14The New Jewish Inventions We Need🤡 Satire for Purim
#463Mar 13Decorum and the JewsR. Avraham Sebba on Parashat Pekudei, Exodus/Shemot 38:21
#462Mar 12A Memo from Mark Zuckerberg of METAMore satire for the month of Adar!
#461Mar 11Edibles for the Jewish CommunityClowning around for Adar
#460Mar 8Why Did Betzalel Need the Divine Spirit?The Trisker Maggid on Parashat Vayakhel, Exodus/Shemot 35:31
#459Mar 7More Is Not Necessarily BetterMalbim on Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 36:5
#458Mar 6Only the Wise Receive WisdomMidrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:31
#457Mar 5I Hope This Essay Is the GOAT!Rashi on Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:25-26
#456Mar 4Two Kinds of HolinessR. Moses Alshekh on Parashat Vayakhel, Shemot/Exodus 35:1
#455Mar 1Wash Your Hands!Ḥizkuni on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 30:21
#454Feb 29What's Worse—Sins or Bad Character Traits?Ohr HaTzafun on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 32:9
#453Feb 28What Was the Point of the Calf?Rashi and Ramban on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 32:1
#452Feb 27The Sound of ApathyRashi on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 32:17-18
#451Feb 26Is That Your Final Answer?B. Megillah 25b on Parashat Ki Tissa, Shemot/Exodus 32:24
#450Feb 23BlueprintsMalbim on Haftarat Tetzaveh, Yeḥezkel/Ezekiel 43:10
#449Feb 22What Happened to the Ten Tribes?Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:3 and Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:21
#448Feb 21Urim V'Tummim: Miracle or Psychology?Rabbenu Bahya on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:30
#447Feb 20A Leader Must Love the PeopleKedushat Levi on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:5
#446Feb 19Thoughts Are Not Punished...Except for This KindSefer Hafla'ah on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:4
#445Feb 16Creativity and Jewish LawKedushat Levi on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:9
#444Feb 15Thoughts and Prayers are MismatchedKedushat Levi on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:2
#443Feb 14Gold on the Outside, Gold on the InsideTalmud on Shemot/Exodus 25:11
#442Feb 13You Call That Living?Reggio on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:8
#441Feb 12Rich and Smart Are Not the Same ThingMidrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:9
#440Feb 9Curses, Foiled Again!Shadal on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 21:17
#439Feb 8Sanctuary From What?Ibn Ezra on Shemot/Exodus 21:14
#438Feb 7A Cure for Cancer?A sermon about Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 23:7
#437Feb 6Kidnapping Is Akin to MurderBirkat Asher on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 21:16
#436Feb 5Two Kinds of Failure: Can't and Won'tRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 22:12
#435Feb 2A Good Man Doesn't OgleRashi on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 20:13
#434Feb 1The Man Who Was Rescued from HellTanna d'bei Eliyahu, Chapter 17
#433Jan 31The Cow That Observed ShabbatMidrash Aseret HaDibbrot on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 20:8
#432Jan 30Honoring Elderly ParentsḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Yitro, Exodus/Shemot 20:12
#431Jan 29Principles FirstA Story About the Importance of Principles
#430Jan 26The Power of SpeechTiferet Shlomo on Parashat Beshallaḥ, Exodus/Shemot 14:3
#429Jan 25Finding Joseph's BonesLegends of the Jews, Parashat Beshallaḥ, Exodus/Shemot 13:19
#428Jan 24The Purpose of PunishmentA Sermon for Parshat Beshallaḥ
#427Jan 23Where Did the Misogyny Come From?Malbim on Haftarat Beshallaḥ, Judges/Shoftim 4:5
#426Jan 22Convenience vs. CommitmentRashi on Parashat Beshallaḥ, Exodus/Shemot 13:17
#425Jan 19Our External and Internal LivesBen Ish Ḥai on Parashat Bo, Exodus/Shemot 10:28
#424Jan 18Why Borrow What You Won't Return?Sforno on Parashat Bo, Exodus/Shemot 11:2
#423Jan 17Darkness Can Be a BlessingRamban on Parashat Bo, Exodus/Shemot 10:23
#422Jan 16When Is It Time to Give Up?Ḥibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Bo, Exodus/Shemot 10:7
#421Jan 15The Story of William and Ellen CraftThe speech I'm giving today in memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
#420Jan 12Israel on TrialHaK'tav V'Hakabbalah on Shemot/Exodus 6:6
#419Jan 11The Five Cups of Emergency RescueBirkat Asher on Parashat Va'Era, Shemot/Exodus 6:6-8
#418Jan 3What Is Jewish Masculinity?Ḥibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 2:10
#417Jan 2Was Moses Right to Kill the Egyptian Man?Shemot Rabbah on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 2:12
#416Jan 1Remember What Admiral Ackbar SaidMidrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:13
Dec 20Chattering MouthsStories relevant to Parashat Vayeshev
Nov 14The Worst Kids Ever: PodcastRashi on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 19:11
Apr 15The OJ Trial and LeprosyGimme Some Torah #468

2023 262 issues

#415Dec 29Legacy WorriesRashi on Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 47:29
#414Dec 28Not Even a LittleSforno on Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 47:29
#413Dec 27All Blessings Are MixedRashi on Bereshit/Genesis 49:7
#412Dec 26Know Your Limit, Drink Within ItNetziv on Bereshit/Genesis 49:11
#411Dec 25Genesis and Exodus Are ConnectedA D'var Torah About Connections Between Genesis and Exodus
#410Dec 22What's So Important About Zionism?Bekhor Shor on Bereshit/Genesis 45:24
#409Dec 21Nobody Gets An Incomplete in LifeIbn Ezra on Bereshit/Genesis 45:28
#408Dec 20I Can't Take It Anymore!A sermon for Parashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:1
#407Dec 19Joseph and the Bomb ThreatsMidrash Rabbah on Bereshit/Genesis 45:3
#406Dec 18Should Men Cry?Bereshit Rabbah on Bereshit/Genesis 45:2
#405Dec 15The Words “I Don’t Know” Are SacredSforno on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:15
#404Dec 14Respect for the SovereignRashi on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:14
#403Dec 13Skinny Cows and HanukkahḤizkuni on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:3
#402Dec 12We're Thankful for War?!A D'var Torah on Al Hannissim
#401Dec 11The Miracle of the Burning VinegarB. Shabbat 21b and B. Taanit 25a
#400Dec 8Hanukkah, Day 1—Light and TruthPsalm 43:3, Likutei Halakhot
#399Dec 7Beware of the BossholeAbarbanel on Bereshit/Genesis 40:1-2
#398Dec 6How Much Does Money Matter?R. Mordekhai of Chernobyl on Bereshit/Genesis 39:2
#397Dec 5Wearing Our Pain on Our SleevesRashi on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:3
#396Dec 4Prudence Is Not PrudishnessA Sermon for Parashat Vayeshev
#395Dec 1We Need to Fight Them, Not Fear ThemMalbim on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 34:30
#394Nov 30"I Have Enough, Take What's Yours"Ḥibbah Yeteirah on Bereshit/Genesis 33:9
#393Nov 29Jewish American or American Jew?Bereshit Rabbah on Bereshit/Genesis 32:29
#392Nov 28Saving the Little JarsBa'al Shem Tov on Bereshit/Genesis 32:25
#391Nov 27All Our Eggs in One BasketRamban on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 32:9
#390Nov 23Where Was Leah?Ramban on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 29:9
#389Nov 22Never Ignore the Check Engine LightShadal on Parashat Vayetze, Genesis/Bereshit 29:19
#388Nov 21Don't Follow Your DreamsIbn Ezra on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 28:12
#387Nov 20Is Your Gratitude a Turnkey or a Turkey?A Thanksgiving Sermon
#386Nov 17Jew-Hatred is BornVarious commentaries on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 26:16
#385Nov 16Word GamesRashi on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:28
#384Nov 15The March for Israel, Against FatalismIbn Ezra on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:32
#383Nov 14College Students Can Be MonstersRashi on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Genesis 25:30
#382Nov 13Don't Be a CreepBirkat Asher on Parashat Toldot, Bereshit/Geneis 26:8
#381Nov 10Delaying a BurialTalmud on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereshit/Genesis 23:2
#380Nov 9Sons, Mothers, and WivesRashi on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereshit/Genesis 24:67
#379Nov 8The Poisoned MealRabbeinu Baḥya on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereshit/Genesis 24:33
#378Nov 7No Canaanite Women Need ApplyVarious commentaries on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereshit/Genesis 24:3-4
#377Nov 6Jews Don't Want to Convert the GlobeBirkat Asher on Parashat Hayyei Sarah, Bereshit/Genesis 24:14
#376Nov 3Why Did God Tell Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac?Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 22:2
#375Nov 2Delay Can Be DeadlyIbn Ezra on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 19:16
#374Nov 1The Monsters at the DoorIbn Ezra on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 19:11
#373Oct 31Gaslighting Is a Weapon of WarTalmud on Parashat Vayera, Bereshit/Genesis 18:20-21
#372Oct 27Rising from the Dust to the StarsTalmud on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 13:16
#371Oct 26Jews, Stars, and HostagesRabbeinu Baḥya on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 15:5
#370Oct 25Every Wedding is a GambleTalmud on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 12:11
#369Oct 24A Good Old Fashioned RantḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 12:3
#368Oct 23Living on the BorderḤizkuni on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereshit/Genesis 13:12
#367Oct 20An Ark Made of WordsBaal Shem Tov on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 6:16
#366Oct 19Israel and the Gordian KnotIs peace in the Middle East a simple problem or a difficult one?
#365Oct 18A Challenging IdeaA D'var Torah about Free Will
#364Oct 17Cursing the ChildrenBereshit Rabbah on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 9:25
#363Oct 16Antisemitism Is an ObsessionThe Lubavitcher Rebbe on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 11:1
#362Oct 13What Is the Cain and Abel Story About?Various intepretations of Bereshit/Genesis 4:5
#361Oct 12The Hardest Speech I’ve Ever Had to WriteMy Speech at Tonight’s Vigil for Israel
#360Oct 11The Appetite TreeSforno on Parashat Bereshit, Bereshit/Genesis 2:9
#359Oct 10The Forbidden FruitA D’var Torah on Parashat Bereshit, Gen 1:1 — 6:8
#358Oct 6God Owes You NothingA Sermon for Yizkor on Shemini Atzeret
#357Oct 5Should We Build Synagogues Or Jews?B. Sukkot 11b and 21st Century Jews
#356Oct 4Sukkot and AirportsB. Sukkah 23a on the Meaning of Sukkot
#355Oct 3Novelty Is an IllusionMidrash Lekaḥ Tov on Kohelet/Ecclesiastes 1:10
#354Sep 29Do We Have to See the Stars?A D'var Torah for Sukkot
#353Sep 28Three Jewish Anniversaries read it hereMy Yizkor sermon for Yom Kippur morning
#351Sep 22Time BlindnessRashi on Parashat Ha'azinu, Deuteronomy/Devarim 32:6
#350Sep 21Is Convincing a Flat Earther Impossible?Rashi on Parashat Ha'azinu, Deuteronomy/Devarim 32:1
#349Sep 20Our Empathy CrisisA Sermon for Rosh Hashanah, Day 2
#348Sep 19Jewish FlexibilityA Sermon for the First Day of Rosh Hashanah
#347Sep 14Seeking Forgiveness from the DeadHaRav Yosef Ovadia on Shulḥan Arukh, OH 606:2
#346Sep 13Quit Your Whining!Sha'arei Teshuvah on Mishlei/Proverbs 18:8
#345Sep 12Upgrade to Repentance Plus Today!Rambam, Hilkhot Teshuvah 2:2
#344Sep 11Feeling Bad Is Part of Being GoodSha'arei Teshuvah on Regret
#343Sep 8Repentance Is Not Rocket Science!Ramban on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilekh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:10-14
#342Sep 7Open and ClosedS'fat Emet on Parashat Nitzavim Vayeilekh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 29:28
#341Sep 6Would You Like to Live for 20,000 Years?Ibn Ezra on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeileikh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 3:14
#340Sep 5Bless Yourself With This One Weird Trick!Rashi on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeileikh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 29:18
#339Sep 4The Hot ZoneIbn Ezra on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilekh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 29:17
#338Sep 1An X-ray for Your SoulMei HaShiloaḥ on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 26:15
#337Aug 31Learn the Sacred TongueHaKtav VeHaKabalah on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 27:14
#336Aug 30America Needs a Cold Shower 🚿A Sermon for Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 26:1—29:8
#335Aug 29Tortoise Bandits Beware!Rashbam and Bekhor Shor on Parashat Ki Tavo, Parashat Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:67
#334Aug 28This Law Is Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S 🍌Ha'amek Davar on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:34
#333Aug 25Do Two Dogs Make a Parapet? 😆🥁Rashi on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 22:8
#332Aug 24The No-Return PolicyShadal and Ibn Ezra on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:16-17
#331Aug 23How Much Do Our Thoughts Count?Ha'amek Davar on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:6
#330Aug 22Collateral DamageBekhor Shor on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 24:10-11
#329Aug 21A Cracked ShofarShulhan Arukh, Laws of the Shofar, OH 586:8
#328Aug 18Drunk, but Not From WineNefesh HaḤayim on Haftarat Shofetim, Isaiah 51:21
#327Aug 17Polygamy Gets Zero Stars on YelpḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:17
#326Aug 16Moral PanicRashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:4
#325Aug 15The Lahaina Fire and the TorahRashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:21
#324Aug 14Oppenheimer's Hands [SPOILERS]Rashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 21:7
#323Aug 11Torah and Critical Thinking SkillsBekhor Shor on Parashat Devarim/Deuteronomy 13:2-3
#322Aug 10Throwback Thursday: The BabirusaA D'var Torah about Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 14:8
#321Aug 9Why Does God Allow Nuclear Weapons?Radak on Haftarat Re'eh, Yishaiyahu/Isaiah 54:16
#320Aug 8Don't Live Life on the Installment PlanDevarim Rabbah on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 11:26
#319Aug 7Barbie and the Power of Ideas [SPOILERS]A D’var Torah about the Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:30
#318Aug 4Is Forgetting a Valid Excuse?Ḥomat Anakh on Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:14
#317Aug 3Hey, Quit Insulting the Iron Age!Talmud on Parashat Ekev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:9
#316Aug 2All The Single LadiesA D'var Torah about the Fifteenth of Av
#315Aug 1The Good Kind of AngerBirkat Asher on Parashat Ekev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 9:17
#314Jul 31Did You Build That Or Not?Birkat Asher on Parashat Ekev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:17-18
#313Jul 28The Day AfterA D'var Torah about the Tenth of Av
#312Jul 26The MazeEikhah Rabbah on Eikhah/Lamentations 3:9
#311Jul 25A Lurking BearRashi on Eikhah/Lamentations 3:10
#310Jul 24The United States of ScamericaA D'var Torah for Shabbat Ḥazon
#309Jul 21The Worst Eulogies EverEikhah Rabbah on Eikhah/Lamentations 3:16
#308Jul 20A Verse That Made the Rabbi CryTorah Temimah on Eikhah/Lamentations 3:29
#307Jul 19Moses Was Bullied in the WorkplaceRashi on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:12
#306Jul 18Did Moses Use Google Translate?Rashi on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:5
#305Jul 17Is Prosperity Dangerous?Rabbenu Baḥya on Parashat Devarim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:13-14
#304Jul 14Acronyms Are the Best!Midrash Rabbah on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Numbers/Bemidbar 33:1
#303Jul 13A Case of the Empathy BluesEikhah Rabbah on Eikhah/Lamentations 1:2
#302Jul 12Honor the VeteransNetziv on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bemidbar/Numbers 31:27
#301Jul 11Life Isn't Supposed to Be EasyMidrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bemidbar/Numbers 33:1
#300Jul 10A Baaad Choice of WordsRashi on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Bemidbar/Numbers 32:16
#299Jul 7Should Women Be Quiet?Rashi on Parashat Pinḥas, Bemidbar/Numbers 27:1
#298Jul 6Gradually, then SuddenlyA D'var Torah About the Fast of 17 Tammuz
#297Jul 5Nobody Is Above the LawRashi on Parashat Pinḥas, Bemidbar/Numbers 25:14
#296Jul 4The Right to Be WrongRashi on Parashat Pinḥas, Bemidbar/Numbers 27:16
#295Jul 3Beware of the Tricksters!Ḥizkuni on Parashat Pinḥas, Bemidbar/Numbers 25:18
#294Jun 30Can Ignorance Be An Excuse?Kanfei Nesharim on Parashat Ḥukkat-Balak, Bemidbar/Numbers 22:34
#293Jun 29Did Bilaam's Donkey Talk?Maimonides and Martin Buber on Parashat Ḥukkat-Balak, Bemidbar/Numbers 22:28
#292Jun 28Is Karma a Jewish Idea?Rashi on Parashat Ḥukkat-Balak, Bemidbar/Numbers 21:6
#291Jun 27Remember What You Do HaveBirkat Asher on Parashat Ḥukkat-Balak, Bemidbar/Numbers 20:5
#290Jun 26Hearing vs. ListeningMalbim on Parashat Hukkat, Bemidbar/Numbers 20:10
#289Jun 23They're Not Half Bad!Netziv on Parashat Koraḥ, Bemidbar/Numbers 17:5
#288Jun 22Why Do People Take Dangerous Risks?Sforno on Parashat Koraḥ, Bemidbar/Numbers 16:7
#287Jun 21The Right Way to ComplainA D'var Torah for Parashat Koraḥ, Bemidbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32
#286Jun 20The Wrong Way to ComplainA D'var Torah about Parashat Koraḥ, Bemidbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32
#285Jun 19Caution: Snark!Midrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Koraḥ, Bemidbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32
#284Jun 16Greed Is the Soil, Evil Is the PlantRashi on Parashat Shelaḥ Lekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 15:32
#283Jun 15The ProstituteSforno on Parashat Shelaḥ Lekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 15:39
#282Jun 14What Is Leadership?Ḥibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Shelaḥ Lekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 14:4
#281Jun 13The Torah of Self-EsteemTalmud and the Kotzker Rebbe on Parashat Shlaḥ Lekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 13:33
#280Jun 12Say "Probability" Ten Times FastRashi on Parashat Shelaḥ Lekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 13:23
#279Jun 9What Is Inexcusable?R. Rafael of Bershad on Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 12:3
#278Jun 8When Is It Too Late for Second Chances?Ḥizkuni on Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 9:13
#277Jun 7Town Mouse and Country MouseRashi on Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 11:4
#276Jun 6Retirement Can Be ToxicRashi on Parashat Beha'alotekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 8:24-26
#275Jun 5You Can Do Hard Things!Sifre on Parashat Beha’alotekha, Bemidbar/Numbers 8:4
#274Jun 2All Sins Have RootsMaayanah Shel Torah on Parashat Naso, Bemidbar/Numbers 5:7
#273Jun 1What Exactly Is God's Face?Martin Buber on Parashat Naso, Bemidbar/Numbers 6:25
#272May 31Does God Do Favors?Talmud on Parashat Naso, Bemidbar/Numbers 6:26
#271May 30Every Blessing Contains a ThreatNetziv on Parashat Naso, Bemidbar/Numbers 6:24
#270May 29"All Gave Some, Some Gave All"A Sermon for Shavuot Yizkor and Memorial Day
#269May 25The Sublime Takes TimeOtzar Midrashim on Shemot/Exodus 19:1
#268May 24Rape and the Ten CommandmentsA Sermon for Shavuot
#267May 23Shavuot and the Hebrew AlphabetMidrash Aseret HaDibbrot
#266May 22Pushing Away the Angel of DeathRashi on Habakkuk 3:5
#265May 19Do You Have a Jewish Name?A D’var Torah on Parashat Bemidbar, Bemidbar/Numbers 1:1 - 4:20
#264May 18Be Like A WildernessKitzur Ba'al HaTurim on Bemidbar/Numbers 1:1
#263May 17Don't Count the Levites!Rashi and Alshikh on Parashat Bemidbar, Bemidbar/Numbers 1:49
#262May 16Vexillology II — Diversity or Unity?Aderet Eliyahu on Parashat Bemidbar, Bemidbar/Numbers 2:2
#261May 15Jewish Vexillology, Part IRashi and Midrash Rabbah on Parashat Bemidbar, Bemidbar/Numbers 2:2
#260May 12The Peace of TorahḤatam Sofer on Parashat Behar-Beḥukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:6
#259May 11Is Halloween Permitted?Rashi and Ibn Ezra on Vayikra/Leviticus 26:3
#258May 10ParanoiaSifra on Parashat Behar-Beḥukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:41
#257May 9Even an Awesome Plan Can FailA D'var Torah for Lag Ba'Omer
#256May 8Defending the TalmudRashi on Parashat Behar-Behukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:1
#255May 7Don't Be A Nuisance!Rashi on Parashat Behar/Beḥukkotai, Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17
#254May 5The Impostor's BurialA D'var Torah on Parashat Emor
#253May 4God Loves Broken PeopleA D'var Torah on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 21:20
#252May 3Free Speech?A sermon on Parashat Emor about free speech in the Jewish tradition
#251May 2Looking for Logic In All the Wrong PlacesRashi on Parashat Emor, Vayikra/Leviticus 26:10
#250Apr 28Mandatory SnitchingKitzur Ba'al HaTurim on Parashat Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:16
#249Apr 27Superstitions are Super-StupidRashi on Parashat Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:26
#248Apr 26Harmless Sin?A D'var Torah on Parashat Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:14
#247Apr 25An Idea the Whole World SharesA D'var Torah on Parashat Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:18
#246Apr 24Idolatry Is CounterfeitRashi on Parashat Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, Vayikra/Leviticus 19:4
#245Apr 23Isn't It Obvious?A D'var Torah on Parashat Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, Vaykira/Leviticus 18:24
#244Apr 21That Don't Impress Me Much. . .Torat HaOlah on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Vayikra/Leviticus 14:35
#244Apr 20Facts Are FactsRashi on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Vayikra/Leviticus 14:35
#243Apr 19Good MourningIbn Ezra on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Vayikra/Leviticus 13:45
#242Apr 18Slander and the HolocaustVayikra Rabbah on Parashat Tazria-Metsora, Vayikra/Leviticus 14:57
#241Apr 17Leprosy and Yom HaShoahIbn Ezra on Parashat Tazria-Metzora, Vayikra/Leviticus 13:2
#240Apr 16Isolation is PoisonA Sermon for Parashat Shemini
#239Apr 11The Calendar Matters!Rashi on Bemidbar/Numbers 9:2
#238Apr 10You’re Asking Me?Abarbanel on the Ezekiel 37:3
#237Apr 5At First, We're All Idol WorshipersA D'var Torah about Karpas
#236Apr 4Broken TelephoneA D'var Torah about the Afikoman
#235Apr 3What Does Jew Mean, Anyway?A D'var Torah for your Seders
#234Apr 2Subtle DifferencesThe Real Differences between the Wise Child and the Wicked Child
#233Mar 31Pray for Evan's Release!A Pesaḥ D'var Torah about Psalm 126:5
#232Mar 30The Jews? Excellent! Assimilation? Bogus!Kos Eliyahu on the Haggadah
#231Mar 29Blame the Jews for Your Bracket!Barukh She'Amar on the Haggadah
#230Mar 28In Every Generation, They Rise to Destroy UsKimḥa D’avshuna on the Haggadah
#229Mar 27Is Dayenu a Lie?A D’var Torah about the Song “Dayenu”
#228Mar 26Stealing TimeA D'var Torah on Parashat Vayikra
#227Mar 24Is the Simple Child Stupid?A D'var Torah about the Simple Child
#226Mar 23Want the Bad News or the Good News First?A D'var Torah about the Bitter Herbs
#225Mar 22Tell the Story!Ephod Bad on the Haggadah
#224Mar 21Will Purdue Win in the Messianic Age?Barukh She'Amar on the Haggadah
#223Mar 20Why Did God Send a Plague of Frogs?Maarekhet Heidenheim on the Haggadah
#222Mar 19What if I Don't Believe in God?A Sermon about Believing
#221Mar 17What Did the Wicked Child Do?Marbeh Lesaper on the Haggadah
#220Mar 16The Parable of the Four ChildrenMarbeh Lesaper on the Haggadah
#219Mar 15Making Money and Spending MoneyRabbi Yehuda Leib Avida on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 35:32
#218Mar 14A Verse That Can Save HumanityKedushat Levi on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 36:7
#217Mar 13Lazy LeadersRashi on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 35:27
#216Mar 12Bully vs. SullyRashi on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shemot/Exodus 35:1
#215Mar 10Perfection is a 1980s Game, Not A GoalA sermon for Parashat Ki Tissa and Shabbat Parah
#214Mar 9The Golden Calf and HawaraRabbenu Baḥya on Shemot/Exodus 32:7
#213Mar 8A Charitable ExplanationDa'at Zekeinim on Shemot/Exodus 32:1
#212Mar 7The Dust and the StarsRashi on Esther 6:13
#211Mar 6New Streaming Service: Hazzerai.com!Netflix is a joke, Hulu is a waste of time. Join Hazzerai today!
#210Mar 5Are Jews Allowed to Bow to People?Yesha Elohim on Esther 3:2
#209Mar 3Midrash or Moo-drash?Avraham Yehoshua Heschel on Haftarat Zachor, I Samuel 15:14
#208Mar 2Download SimSyn, My New App!SymSyn: The First Synagogue Simulation Game
#207Mar 1Privacy Is a Jewish ValueBekhor Shor on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:35
#206Feb 28Nepo-BabiesRashi on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:1
#205Feb 27Forgiving ClothesB. Zevaḥim on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 28:4
#204Feb 26Religion in PublicPardes Yosef on Parashat Tetzaveh, Shemot/Exodus 27:21
#203Feb 24Is an Ark a Man?Vilna Gaon on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:10
#202Feb 23The Sensitivity Readers [SATIRE 🤡]Purim Torah for Adar 5783
#201Feb 22Rich Jew, Poor JewDivrei Emet on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:3
#200Feb 21Rules Can Have ExceptionsḤizkuni on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:18
#199Feb 20The Problem With Big DonorsP'ninei Torah on Parashat Termuah, Shemot/Exodus 25:2
#198Feb 19We Know What תָּחַשׁ (Taḥash) Means!Rashi and Rabbenu Baḥya on Parashat Terumah, Shemot/Exodus 25:5
#197Feb 17Justice Is an End, Not a MeansRashi and Shadal on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 23:3
#196Feb 16The News Is Not All BadRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 21:12-14
#195Feb 15We Are More Than the Sum of Our PartsRashi on Parashat Shemot/Exodus 21:23-25
#194Feb 14Excuses, Excuses, ExcusesRashi on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 22:5
#193Feb 13Is Schadenfreude Kosher?Shenei Luḥot HaBerit on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 23:5
#192Feb 12What If A Mitzvah Sounds Horrible?Rabbenu Baḥya on Parashat Mishpatim, Shemot/Exodus 22:17
#191Feb 10The Mouth Is a Deadly WeaponIbn Ezra on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 20:13
#190Feb 9How Much Does a Mitzvah Weigh?Rashi on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 20:5
#189Feb 8How to Stay MarriedRashi on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 19:1
#188Feb 7Use Your Spidey Sense!Rabbenu Baḥya on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 18:21
#187Feb 6Moses Wore Many HatsRamban on Parashat Yitro, Shemot/Exodus 18:15
#186Feb 5Is Cryonics Kosher?A Sermon on Parashat Beshallaḥ
#185Feb 3The Online Pillars of Cloud and FireTiferet Shlomo on Parashat Beshallaḥ, Shemot/Exodus 14:3
#184Feb 2Horses? What Horses?Midrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 14:7
#183Feb 1Splitting the Sea and the Memphis PDNetziv on Parashat Beshallaḥ, Shemot/Exodus 14:14
#182Jan 31God Has Hands?Rashi on Parashat Beshallah, Shemot/Exodus 14:31
#181Jan 30Liberty or Death?Malbim on Parashat Beshallaḥ, Shemot/Exodus 14:11
#180Jan 29Three Kinds of GreedA Sermon on Parashat Beshallaḥ
#179Jan 27What Makes an Apology Kosher?Ḥibbah Yeteirah on Shemot/Exodus 10:16
#178Jan 26Every Second Is a GiftRashi on Shemot/Exodus 12:2
#177Jan 25Who's a Good Dog?!Ha'amek Davar on Shemot/Exodus 11:7
#176Jan 24The Emergency Repentance ButtonYismaḥ Moshe on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 10:3
#175Jan 23Pharaoh, Caring, and Artificial IntelligenceḤizkuni on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 10:7
#174Jan 22God's Door Is Open In Both DirectionsIbn Ezra on Parashat Bo, Shemot/Exodus 10:20
#173Jan 20Past, Present, and FutureḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 6:9
#172Jan 19Failure Can Be a Good ThingBirkat Asher on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 6:12
#171Jan 18Moses and Professor GivemaneffRashi on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 6:3
#170Jan 17Frogs, the Jersey Turnpike, and DachauBekhor Shor on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 8:10
#169Jan 16In Honor of Dr. KingRashi on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 8:2
#168Jan 15Eighty Is The New SixtyHaKtav v'Hakabbalah on Parashat Vaera, Shemot/Exodus 7:7
#167Jan 13Long Live the Righteous Gentiles!Kli Yakar on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:15
#166Jan 12Be a GPS Satellite, not a Rescue HelicopterKedushat Levi on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 2:4
#165Jan 11Stop Oppressing Yourself!Sforno on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:14
#164Jan 10A Different Kind of SlaveryKli Yakar on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:9-10
#163Jan 9Moses, Maturity, and COVIDMidrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 2:11
#162Jan 8New King or Old King?Midrash on Parashat Shemot, Shemot/Exodus 1:8
#161Jan 6More Than We DeserveRashi on Bereshit/Genesis 48:11 vs. 47:9
#160Jan 5The Jews Are a FamilySermon on Parashat Vayehi
#159Jan 4All Murder Is a Mega-TheftRashi on Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 49:5
#158Jan 3The Good Part About Terminal IllnessMidrash on Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 48:1
#157Jan 2All Your Blessing Are Belong to UsRashi on Parashat Vayeḥi, Bereshit/Genesis 49:28
#156Jan 1Good Intentions Are EZ-Pass on the Road to HellR. Meir of Premishlan on Parashat Vayehi, Bereshit/Genesis 49:7
Sep 27The UFOs and Yom KippurMy Yom Kippur Kol Nidre sermon, 5784/2023
Apr 17Join me on NotesA new place to connect

2022 161 issues

#155Dec 30Is Joseph Still Online?Aderet Eliyahu on Parashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:26
#154Dec 29My Son the DoctorToledot Yitzḥak on Parashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:26
#153Dec 28Joseph's Lemonade RecipeParashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:5
#152Dec 27Nu, What's so Bad About Idolatry?A final thought on Hanukkah 5783 — R. Moshe Alshikh on Psalm 115:4-8
#151Dec 26Why Were Pharaoh and His Court Pleased?Netziv on Parashat Vayigash, Bereshit/Genesis 45:16
#150Dec 25Hanukkah is the Festival of NO!A version of the sermon I delivered at Temple Beth El, Somerset, NJ on 12/24/2022
#149Dec 23Is Talent Mine or Divine?The Parable of the Dubner Maggid on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:39
#148Dec 22Think, but Don't OverthinkVarious commentators on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:8
#147Dec 21The Light of Hanukkah is WisdomRamban on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:33
#146Dec 20Joseph was a Triple MiracleNetziv on Parashat Mikketz, Bereshit/Genesis 41:12
#145Dec 19The Meaning of Hanukkah in One PhotoA D'var Torah for Hanukkah, 5783/2022
#144Dec 18Quit Saying Hanukkah is a Minor Holiday!A sermon in preparation for Hanukkah, delivered at Temple Beth El on Dec. 17, 2022
#143Dec 16Joseph the RevolutionaryR. Yosef Ber Soloveitchik on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:7
#142Dec 15Wandering or Wondering?Kli Yakar on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:15
#141Dec 14“Children of Israel are Never Alone”Rashi on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 40:1
#140Dec 13Two Kinds of SuccessMalbim on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 39:3
#139Dec 12There Is No Such Thing as EmptyRashi and Sh'eirit Menaḥem on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:24
#138Dec 11The Coat of PainRashi on Parashat Vayeshev, Bereshit/Genesis 37:3
#137Dec 9The Evil Impulse Comes in Two FlavorsTalmud on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 32:25
#136Dec 9You're Not You When You SinRashi on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 34:25
#135Dec 8When Words Lose Their PowerRabbi S.R. Hirsch on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 34:5
#134Dec 7Forbidden QuestionsRashi and Sforno on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 33:9
#133Dec 6A Cheater No MoreRashi on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 32:29
#132Dec 5Confidence and the Price of VictoryRashi and Ḥibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 32:26
#131Dec 4Fear and DivisionRashi on Parashat Vayishlaḥ, Bereshit/Genesis 32:8
#130Dec 3One Person's Meat is Another's PoisonRashi on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 31:24
#129Dec 2Was Rachel Hiding Her Dad's Smokes?Rashi and Ibn Ezra on Parashat Vayetze, Bereishit/Genesis 31:19
#128Dec 1Leah's Weak EyesVarious interpretations of Parashat Vayetze, Bereisht/Genesis 29:17
#127Nov 30Jacob the WhistleblowerḤizkuni and Sforno on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 29:7
#126Nov 29Genesis and CryptoMIdrash Rabbah on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 29:25
#125Nov 28To Cancel Your Ego, Press 8Tiferet Shlomo on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 28:16
#124Nov 27Did Jacob Use Potty Mouth?Rashi and R. Simḥa Bunim of Peshishcha on Parashat Vayetze, Bereshit/Genesis 29:21
#123Nov 26Isaac’s SensesHibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Toldot, Bereishit/Genesis 27:1
#122Nov 25Isaac’s BlunderSforno on Parashat Toldot, Bereishit/Genesis 26:35
#121Nov 24How to be ThankfulAlshekh on Parashat Toldot, Bereishit/Genesis 26:12-16
#120Nov 23Parental Love Needs No ReasonRashi on Parashat Toldot, Bereishit/Genesis 25:28
#119Nov 22When Your Dad Greets You in the MirrorRashi on Parashat Toldot, Genesis/Bereishit 25:19
#118Nov 21Nobody Is Born BlankRashi on Parashat Toldot, Bereishit/Genesis 25:22
#117Nov 20Jacob Was Not SimpleḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Toldot, Bereishit/Genesis 25:27
#116Nov 19Pious CamelsAvot d'Rabbi Natan on Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 24:31
#115Nov 18Are Jews Allowed to Manifest?Sforno on Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 24:14
#114Nov 17Unreasonable PrayersTalmud on Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 24:14
#113Nov 16What Makes A Eulogy Good?Avnei Ḥein on Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 23:2
#112Nov 15Why Didn't Abraham Do It Himself?Netziv on Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 24:1
#111Nov 14Forced Marriage Is ForbiddenRashi on Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis. 24:58
#110Nov 13Swiping Left on Canaanite WomenḤibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah, Bereishit/Genesis 24:4
#109Nov 11Putting God on TrialRashi on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 22:2
#108Nov 11Abraham, What's With the Long Face?Rashi on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 21:11
#107Nov 10Sodom and KristallnachtReading Parashat Vayera and remembering the day the Holocaust began
#106Nov 9Looking Back at TraumaRashbam on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 19:17, 27
#105Nov 8The Blessing of ShameNetziv on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 19:4
#104Nov 7What Does Justice Sound Like?Midrash Tanḥuma on Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 18:25
#103Nov 6Haste Makes WasteA sermon about Parashat Vayera, Bereishit/Genesis 18:1-22:24
#102Nov 5Why Was Sarah Mad at Abraham?Rashi on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 16:5
#101Nov 4Why Did God Punish the Egyptians?Ramban on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 15:14
#100Nov 3Chasing Away The VulturesḤizkuni on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 15:11
#99Nov 2Is Wealth Spiritually Toxic?Ḥizkuni on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 13:6
#98Nov 1Was Abraham Chivalrous?Rashi on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 12:8
#97Oct 31The Tower Builders and AbrahamAbravanel on Bereishit/Genesis 11:1
#96Oct 30Tree of LifeHibbah Yeteirah on Parashat Lekh Lekha, Bereishit/Genesis 12:3
#95Oct 28Bricks and MortarNetziv on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereishit/Genesis 11:3
#94Oct 27What Does It Mean To Be Righteous?Ḥibbah Yeteirah on Bereishit/Genesis 9:21
#93Oct 26Conspiracy TheoriesRashi on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereishit/Genesis 8:7
#92Oct 25No Good Deed Goes UnpunishedRashi on Parashat Noaḥ, Genesis/Bereisht 7:23
#91Oct 24The Danger of IndecisionRashi and Bartenura on Parashat Noaḥ, Bereishit/Genesis 7:7
#90Oct 23The Bravest Women in the WorldSermon on Parashat Bereishit
#89Oct 21What Makes Humans Different?Rashi on Parashat Bereishit, Bereishit/Genesis 2:7
#88Oct 20Here's Why Your Life is ChaoticRashi on Parashat Bereishit, Bereishit/Genesis 1:2
#87Oct 19It’s Good to be BrokenShemini Atzeret Yizkor Sermon, 5783/2022
#86Oct 16The Gates are ClosingRabbenu Bahya and S'fat Emet on Hoshanna Rabbah
#85Oct 14Is Health the Most Important Thing?A Hasidic story about Sukkot
#84Oct 13Can an Emotion be Commanded?Rashi and Sforno on Devarim/Deuterononomy 16:15
#83Oct 9Tastes Great! Less Filling!Talmud and Rashi on Sukkot (Leviticus/Vayikra 23:43)
#82Oct 7Two Kinds of StupidRashi on Parashat Ha'azinu, Devarim/Deuteronomy 32:6
#81Oct 7"The Sermon Was Too Short"Rashi on Parashat Ha'azinu, Devarim/Deuteronomy 32:2
#80Oct 6Yizkor Sermon 5783Remembering the Voices of our Beloved Departed
#79Oct 5Kol Nidre Sermon 5783Be a Mensch!
#78Oct 3The Origin of LiesRashi on Parashat Ha'azinu, Devarim/Deuteronomy 32:5
#77Sep 30Life is BittersweetRashi on Devarim/Deuteronomy 32:21
#76Sep 29Sin is a "You Problem"Sforno on Parashat Vayeilekh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 31:29
#75Sep 28Rosh Hashanah Sermon, Day 2Main point: We must encourage Jewish pride
#74Sep 28Rosh Hashanah Sermon, Day 1Main point: "People are more important than ideas."
#73Sep 23The Torah is a Love LetterNetziv on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:20
#72Sep 22You Can Figure It OutSforno on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:11
#71Sep 21Justice for the Secret Jew-hatersSforno on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:7
#70Sep 20A Circumcised Heart?Ramban on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:6
#69Sep 19Idolatry is Poop-ularRashi and Vilna Gaon on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 29:16
#68Sep 18Met You at SinaiRashi, Ibn Ezra, and Shadal on Parashat Nitzavim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 29:14
#67Sep 16Be Happy. . .or Else!Rabbenu Bahya on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:47
#66Sep 16Don't Become a MemeRashi on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:37
#65Sep 15It's Crazy Time!Netziv on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:35
#64Sep 14Tefillin and PowerḤatam Sofer on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:10
#63Sep 13Entry and ExitRashi and Malbim on Parashat Ki Tavo, Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:6
#62Sep 12Location is a Form of WealthTalmud on Devarim/Deuteronomy 28:3
#61Sep 11In Memory of Her Majesty The QueenMy sermon on Ki Teitze, delivered yesterday morning
#60Sep 9Let's Play The Price is Wrong!Ramban on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:19
#59Sep 9Learning Torah without a LicenseShadal on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:16
#58Sep 8Cover Your Ears?Talmud on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:13-14
#57Sep 7The Psychopathic SonSanhedrin on Parshat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 21:18-21
#56Sep 6War is no ExcuseRashi and Ramban on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:10
#55Sep 5Bad Deeds vs. Bad SeedEikhah Rabbah (1:38) on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 23:3
#54Sep 4Relax, Don't Get So IrritatedMe'or Einayim on Parashat Ki Teitze, Devarim/Deuteronomy 22:8
#53Sep 2C'mon, Where's the Harm?Rashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:19
#52Sep 2You Must Be Wholly HolyR. Yitzchak Elchanan on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 18:13
#51Sep 1Hatred is a Gateway DrugRashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 19:11
#50Aug 31Last Exit Before RefugeRashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 19:3
#49Aug 30The Dead Don’t TextRashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 18:11
#48Aug 29Dude, You Dropped Some BreadRashi on Parashat Shofetim Devarim/Deuteronomy 18:10
#47Aug 28Taking the Torah to DinnerRashi on Parashat Shofetim, Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:18
#46Aug 26Will Poverty Ever Disappear?Rashi on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 15:4, 11
#45Aug 26Bailouts for the Rich?Sifre on Devarim/Deuteronomy 15:8
#44Aug 25Yes, Your Looks CountRashi on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 14:1
#43Aug 24Idols: If You've Seen One, You've Seen Them AllRashi on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 13:8
#42Aug 23Breaking Bad in the Iron AgeḤizkuni on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 13:3
#41Aug 22Introducing Idolatry Lite!Sforno (et al.) on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 12:30
#40Aug 21The Middle of the RoadSforno on Parashat Re'eh, Devarim/Deuteronomy 11:26
#39Aug 20When People Believe Obvious LiesNetziv on Parashat Ekev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:17
#38Aug 19Finish the Job!Rashi on Parashat Ekev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:1
#37Aug 18How to be a Humble RabbiMe'orot Hagedolim on Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:14
#36Aug 17Idolatry is RadioactiveḤatam Sofer on Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:26
#35Aug 16Mythical Creatures and Useless PeopleNetziv on Parashat Eikev, Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:14
#34Aug 15How to Save on ClothingRashi and Ibn Ezra on Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:4
#33Aug 14Beethoven's Fifth. . .on a KazooDeuteronomy/Devarim 6:4, 6:6
#32Aug 13Square with the HouseRashi and Vilna Gaon on Deuteronomy/Devarim 3:29 and 4:1
#31Aug 12We the Few, We the ManyRamban on Devarim/Deuteronomy 4:27
#30Aug 11Stealing is the Root of All SinDevarim/Deuteronomy 5:17
#29Aug 10No Bones About ItRashi on Parashat Vaetḥanan, Devarim/Deuteronomy 4:22
#28Aug 9Converts Make Us StrongerRashi and Shadal on Parashat Vaetḥanan, Devarim/Deuteronomy 4:20
#27Aug 8Life Isn't Fair 🤬😡😩😭!Rashi on Devarim/Deuteronomy 3:23
#26Aug 7Our People: So Smart and So StupidRashi on Isaiah 1:3
#25Aug 6Don’t Judge for YourselfRashi on Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:17
#24Aug 5¡Échale Ganas! (Give it your All!)Rashi on Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:13
#23Aug 4God is not Running Some Airbnb!Rashi and Bekhor Shor on Devarim/Deuteronomy 2:12
#22Aug 3Hey You! Get Off My Lawn!Rashi on Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:22
#21Aug 2Empires Collapse in Three StagesḤatam Sofer on Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:12
#20Aug 1A Dying DeclarationRashi on Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:3
#19Jul 31Faith and IntelligenceSforno on Devarim/Deuteronomy 4:4
#18Jul 30Inflation and Your WordBemidbar/Numbers 30:3
#17Jul 29Euthanasia and the Kiss of DeathBemidbar/Numbers 33:38
#16Jul 28Be Happy! Remember Suffering!Rashi on Bemidbar/Numbers 33:1
#15Jul 27A Different Kind of Environmental CrisisḤizkuni on Bemidbar/Numbers 35:33
#14Jul 26Is Life Imprisonment Cruel?Ḥizkuni on Parashat Masei, Bemidbar/Numbers 35:28
#13Jul 25What If There Were A Dow Jones Morale Average?Rashi on Parshat Mattot, Bemidbar/Numbers 32:7
#12Jul 24Are There Forbidden Thoughts?Rashi on Parashat Mattot-Masei, Numbers/Bemidbar 31:50
#11Jul 23You Can't Spell Dynasty without Nasty!Rashi on Parashat Pinhas, Numbers/Bemidbar 27:16
#10Jul 22When the Grandchildren Disappoint UsParashat Pinhas, Number/Bemidbar 27:12-13
#9Jul 21The Torah’s Most Important Verse?Parashat Pinhas, Bemidbar/Numbers 28:4
#8Jul 20Keep an Open MindRashi on Parashat Pinhas, Bemidbar/Numbers 27:7
#7Jul 19Don't Be a Mansplainer!Rashi on Parashat Pinhas: Bemidbar/Numbers 27:7
#6Jul 18Is Life Fair or Random?Rashi on Parashat Pinhas, Numbers 26:53-54
#5Jul 17Bottomless HatredParashat Pinhas; Rashi on Numbers 25:15
#4Jul 17Bilaam the Con ManRashi on Bemidbar/Numbers 22:29-30
#3Jul 15Hatred Makes You Smell like a DonkeyRashi on Parashat Balak, Numbers 22:21
#2Jul 14Neither Honey nor Sting!Rashi on Parashat Balak, Numbers 22:12
#1Jul 13Is God Watching?Rashi on Parashat Balak, Bemdibar/Numbers 22:9
Sep 25One last thing…My pre-Rosh Hashanah message
Sep 25I’ll be back in 5783!Note to readers
Feb 28Vayera 5782: Let Us Laugh!
Feb 28Lekh Lekha 5775: Ebola
Feb 28Noah 5782: Conspiracy Theories
Feb 28Bereisit 5781: Pants on Fire!

2021 1 issue

May 18Torah Thoughts from Rabbi Eli Garfinkel

Index built from Rabbi Garfinkel's own archive, October 9, 2026. Titles and dates are his; the writing is his and lives on his Substack.