In Parshat Tetzavé, the children of Israel are commanded to bring pure olive oil to keep the Ner Tamid, the eternal lamp in the Mishkan,...

This week, I want to begin by sharing a Midrash regarding Parshat Terumah. The Midrash, as you know, is a rabbinic explanation, typically...

To Sit in Shiva As a Nation, As a People This was the title of an email I sent out yesterday. And today, I want to share some of its...

Parshat Yitro recounts the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, an event that, according to our tradition, involved all Jewish souls—past,...

I’ve mentioned before that I like to create almost theatrical images in my mind of the Torah moments that touch me deeply. The crossing...

Why is it that the Torah ALWAYS reflects situations from our own reality? Why do the examples and stories of our People seem to update...

I don’t believe in the magical aspects of the Torah. I know there are many who do. I believe in an all-powerful God. So powerful, in...

“And these are the names…” This is how the book of Shmot, also known as Exodus, begins, naming each of the sons of Yaakov.  It is...

This week, in Parashat Vayechi, we encounter something particularly striking: Our third patriarch, Jacob, departs from this world, and...

This Parasha represents a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Torah. Two prominent figures, Yehuda and Yosef, come face to face. This...

Parshat Miketz invites us to reflect on the human ability to discover light amid darkness and build hope even in the most challenging...

As parents, we often forget that our choices, our ways of being, our decisions—in short, our example—leave a lasting imprint on the minds...

How do we set aside past mistakes and work together with those who have hurt us? Parshat Vayishlach speaks to us fundamentally about...

Last week in Parashat Toldot, we asked why Isaac? Why was Isaac the second patriarch? Today, we ask the same question for Jacob. Why...

Parshat Chayei Sarah begins with the story of Sarah's death and ends with the death of the one who is considered the founding father of...

This week’s parasha, Vayera, carries a powerful theme of continuity. It speaks explicitly about our role as a link in the chain, urging...

Lech Lecha Go forth from your land, from the place of your birth, from your father’s home to the land I will show you. I will give this...

The two predominant stories in this week’s parashah, the well-known story of Noah and the equally famous tale of the Tower of Babel,...

Sukkot, unlike the rest of the pilgrimage festivals, does not commemorate any specific historical event. On Sukkot, we rather celebrate...

It was the time between Musaf and Mincha on Yom Kippur, and young Daniel Shapiro went to see his Rabbi. "Rabbi Pollak, you must help me....