“Any woman who gives birth must have her needs met and more.” That may sound like a line from a policy statement by Planned Parenthood or the Children’s Defense Fund, but I read these words in a collection of traditional commentaries, Iturei Torah, …
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d'Var Torah
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5/12/25
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We live in a country that declares that each of us has the inalienable right to be free. Of course, comparing the freedoms we have today with those we had under Paro is quite interesting. But are we …
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d'Var Torah
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4/3/25
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A few weeks ago, I got some really exciting professional news: a project that I’ve been working on at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership – for the past …
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d'Var Torah
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3/6/25
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The Shabbat where Parashat Beshallach is read is commonly referred to by a special name, Shabbat Shira (the Sabbath of Song). On this Shabbat, the reading contains the song the Israelites sang when …
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d'Var Torah
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2/14/25
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The Torah describes Jacob in his last days, blessing his sons. He leaves behind him a record of life marked by dramatic episodes: he was despised by his brothers when he was young and later elevated …
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d'Var Torah
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1/9/25
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One of my favorite Hanukkah songs is “Light One Candle,” written by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. He captured the true essence and meaning of the holiday through his lyrics. …
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d'Var Torah
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12/8/24
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On Nov. 29, 1947, the United Nations approved Resolution 181 calling for the division of the British Mandate for Palestine into two nations – one for Jews and one for Arabs. The leadership of the Jewish community in Palestine, led by David Ben-Gurion, decided that they would declare the establishment of the Jewish state one day before the British finalized their withdrawal. ...
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d'Var Torah
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11/3/24
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Back in the fall of 1994, when I was a relatively impoverished rabbinical student living in Israel, I went to my local Bank Leumi branch to make a withdrawal. After the transaction, I asked the …
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d'Var Torah
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10/8/24
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There was much to see at the summer Olympics this year: Simone Biles’ incredible gymnastics victories, the amazing swimming feats of Katie Ledecky and the Israeli delegation’s achievement …
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d'Var Torah
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9/6/24
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We are now in the midst of the three weeks leading up to Tisha B’Av, the most sorrowful day of the Jewish year. These three weeks are called the t’lat d’furanuta , “the three …
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d'Var Torah
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8/2/24
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