September 24, 2022

NITZAVIM, DEUTERONOMY 29:9-30:20

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Peoplehood, Responsibility, and Intentionality by Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

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September 17, 2022

KI TAVO, DEUTERONOMY 26:1-29:8

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Forging the Intergenerational Self by Rabbi Jethro Berkman

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September 10, 2022

KI TEITZEI, DEUTERONOMY 21:10-25:19

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Sins of the Father by Amy Deutsch

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September 3, 2022

SHOFTIM, DEUTERONOMY 16:18-21:9

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: The Emergence of Environmentalism by Rabbi Neal J. Loevinger

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August 27, 2022

RE'EH, DEUTERONOMY 11:26-16:17

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: The Kosher Turkey Debate by Rabbi Joshua Heller

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August 20, 2022

EIKEV, DEUTERONOMY 7:12-11:25

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• From ReformJudaism.org: All You Need is Love by Shira Milgrom

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August 13, 2022

VA-ET'CHANAN, DEUTERONOMY 3:23-7:11

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Do not Make Yourself a Pesel, Lest Torah Become an Idol by Shira Milgrom

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August 6, 2022

DEVARIM, DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:22

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Tzedek vs.Tzedakah: Justice vs. Charity by Adina Gerver

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July 30, 2022

MATOT-MASEI, NUMBERS 30:2-36:13

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: 

  • The Spiritual Trauma of Taking a Life by Rabbi Asher Lopatin

  • How to Model Genuine Curiosity by Or Mars

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July 23, 2022

PINCHAS, NUMBERS 25:10-30:1

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Confronting Violence and Injustice Against Women by Rabbi Alex Kress

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July 16, 2022

BALAK, NUMBERS 22:2-25:9

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• From ReformJudaism.org: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Curse the Children of Israel by Phillip Rice

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July 9, 2022

CHUKAT, NUMBERS 19:1-22:1

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Growth Means Taking Responsibility by Beth Ellen Young

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July 2, 2022

KORACH, NUMBERS 16:1-18:32

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Not All Rebellions Look (or End) Like Korach's Did by Rabbi Carole B. Balin, Ph.D.

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June 25, 2022

SH'LACH L'CHA, NUMBERS 13:1-15:41

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Transforming Trauma by Beth Ellen Young

 

June 18, 2022

BEHA'ALOTCHA, NUMBERS 8:1-12:16

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: God Hears, But What We Do Matters Most by Rabbi Elaine Zecher

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June 11, 2022

NASSO, NUMBERS 4:21-7:89

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Surrogate Judaism by Rabbi Joshua Heller

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June 4, 2022

BAMIDBAR, NUMBERS 1:1-4:20

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: When Women Are Invisible by Sivan Rotholz

 

May 28, 2022

B'CHUKOTAI, LEVITICUS 26:3-27:34

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• From Reformjudaism.org: When It's Hard to Believe Life Will Get Better by Rabbi Billy Dreskin

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May 21, 2022

BEHAR, LEVITICUS 25:1-26:2

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Economic Justice for Insiders and Outsiders by Rabbi Joshua Heller

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May 14, 2022

EMOR, LEVITICUS 21:1-24:23

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Emerge from Your Cave and See God's World Around You by Rabbi Ben Spratt

 

May 7, 2022

KEDOSHIM, LEVITICUS 19:1-20:27

 

• From MyJewishLearning.com: Stumbling Blocks of Consumerism by Carmi Wisemon 

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April 30, 2022

ACHREI MOT, LEVITICUS 16:1-18:30

 

In Achrei Mot (After Death), named as such because it focuses on what happens to the Israelites after the death of Aaron’s two sons, Madab and Abihu, we learn of the concept of the “scapegoat.”

 

As described in this parsha, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the High Priest is to take two male goats and by using lots, identify one for God and the other one for Azazel. The goat marked for God is slaughtered as a sin offering and its blood is used to cleanse the Tent of meeting, the altar and the Holy of Holies. Then the High Priest is to confess all of the sins of the Israelites over the second goat and that goat is to be set free in the wilderness. Thus, the original meaning of the expression “scapegoat.”  

 

At the High Holidays, we think about our actions over the past year. Our prayers of repentance at this time are for sings against God.  However, sins against people demand more than just prayer. Maimonides emphasized the need to voice confession to the person(s) we have hurt. Repentance also should not be done in a quick “I’m so sorry,” but must come out of serious soul-searching. According to Maimonides, the true penitent is also someone who commits a sin and is later given the opportunity to commit the exact same sin but chooses not to do so.

 

In contemporary times, is it enough to write “I’m sorry” just on social media and not face to face (whether in-person or by zoom) with the person you have hurt? Does a quick “sorry” immediately after inflicting pain (emotional and/or physical) make one a true penitent? Must, as Maimonides emphasizes, true repentance demand that some length of time must take place during which contemplation has been carried out? These are a few questions to consider as we try to make amends.

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April 9, 2022

METZORA, LEVITICUS 14:1-15:33

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• From MyJewishLearning.com:

  • The Toothpaste Sacrifice by Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn

  • Modern Untouchables: Our Sins of Exclusion by Rabbi Justin David

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April 2, 2022

TAZRIA, LEVITICUS 12:1-13:59

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• From ReformJudaism.org: The Disease that Walls Get by Dr. Rachel Adler

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​March 26, 2022

SH'MINI, LEVITICUS 9:1-11:47

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Birds of a Feather (Don't Always) Flock Together: Sacred Ornithology and Efforts for Peace by Cantor Jill Abramson

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March 19, 2022

TZAV, LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Command [Aaron and His Sons]

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March 12, 2022

VAYIKRA, LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Encountering God in the Sacred Silence by Rabbi Ben Spratt

 

March 5, 2022

PEKUDEI, EXODUS 38:21-40:38

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• From The Jerusalem Post: Mystery of the Cloud by David Wolpe

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February 26, 2022

VAYAKHEL, EXODUS 35:1-38:20

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: And the Loveliest of All was the Unicorn by Rabbi Avi Weinstein

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February 19, 2022

KI TISA, EXODUS 30:11-34:35

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Parashat Ki Tisa: Waking Up to Freedom by Rabbi Hilly Haber

• From RabbiSacks.org: Can there be Compassion Without Justice? by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

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February 12, 2022

TETZAVEH, EXODUS 27:20-30:10

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• Seeing the Holy in Our Work by CCJCC Under One Tent Program Director and EBIJFF Director Riva Gambert

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February 5, 2022

TERUMAH, EXODUS 25:1-27:19

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• ​From MyJewishLearning.com: In Forgiveness, Making Space for the Divine by Rabbi Brent C. Spodek

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January 29, 2022

MISHPATIM, EXODUS 21:1-24:18

 

• ​From ReformJudaism.org: Beyond Welcoming the Stranger by Rabbi Hilly Haber

• From Kosher.com: Watch The Power of Giving

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January 22, 2022

YITRO, EXODUS 18:1-20:23

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Advice from a Father-in-Law by Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus

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January 15, 2022

BESHALACH, EXODUS 13:17-17:16

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: An Indirect Route by Nancy Reuben Greenfield

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January 8, 2022

BO, EXODUS 10:1-13:16

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Why Firstborns Are Such a Big Deal in the Torah by Rabbi Ana Bonnheim

• From RabbiSacks.org: Telling the Story by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

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January 1, 2022

VA'EIRA, EXODUS 6:2-9:35

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• From ReformJudaism.org: 

  • The True Purpose of the Plagues by Ana Bonnheim

  • Va'eira for Teens: Shabbat Sha-raps ​

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December 25, 2021

SHEMOT, EXODUS 1:1-6:1

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: 

  • Stop Making Excuses and Step Up to the Plate by Rabbi Michelle Missagieh

  • How Two Midwives Tricked Pharoah by Hannah G. Pressman ​

 

December 18, 2021

VAYECHI, GENESIS 47:28-50:26

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• From ReformJudaism.org: Vayechi is a Reminder of the Power to Keep Hope Alive by Rabbi Michael Dolgin 

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December 11, 2021

VAYIGASH, GENESIS 44:18-47:27

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• From RabbiSacks.org:

  • The Unexpected Leader by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

  • Does My Father Love Me? by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

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December 4, 2021

MIKEITZ, GENESIS 41:1-44:17

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• From ReformJudaism.org:

  • Israel in Egypt: From Valued Subjects to Persecuted Minority by Rabbi Paul Kipnes

  • Forgiveness and Reconciliation with the Past by Ellen M. Umansky, Ph.D.

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November 27, 2021

VAYESHEV, GENESIS 37:1-40:23

 

• From MyJewishLearning.com:

  • The Light at the End of the Tunnel by Rabbi K. Rosenbaum

  • Caring for One Another, A Resource for Families by Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses 

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November 20, 2021

VAYISHLACH, GENESIS 32:4-36:43

 

• ​​From MyJewishLearning.com: A Tale of Two Jacobs by Rabbi Justin Goldstein

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November 13, 2021

VAYETZEI, GENESIS 28:10-32:3

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• ​From MyJewishLearning.com: The Place with No Name by Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn

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November 6, 2021

TOLDOT, GENESIS 25:19-28:9

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• ​From MyJewishLearning.com: Did Esau have ADD/ADHD?  by Steven M. Brown

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October 30, 2021

CHAYEI SARAH, GENESIS 23:1-25:18

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• From ReformJudaism.org:​ "Resident Foreigners" and the Wisdom of the Oxymoron by Rabbi Dan Moskovitz

• ​From MyJewishLearning.com: Was Abraham's Second Wife Really Hagar? by Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky

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October 23, 2021

VAYERA, GENESIS 18:1-22:24

 

• From RabbiSacks.org:

  • ​The Binding of Isaac by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

  • Negative Capability (Family Edition) by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

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October 16, 2021

LECH LECHA, GENESIS 12:1-17:27

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Finding the Courage to Begin by Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses

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Questions to Consider Yourself Based on this Parsha:

• How are you a blessing in your life to others?

• What journey did you go on that had a major impact on your life?

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October 9, 2021

NOACH, GENESIS 6:9-11:32

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: 

  • ​Parachat Noah: Summary by Nancy Reuben Greenfield

  • Parashat Noach Quiz 

• From ReformJudaism.org: Naming Naamah, Noach's Wife (and the Other Torah Women, too) by Rabbi Paul Kipnes

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October 2, 2021

BERESHIT, GENESIS 1:1-6:8

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Being Like God by Ben Harris

• From SouthStreetTemple.org: Genesis

 

 

September 25, 2021

CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT, EXODUS 33:12-34:26

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• From SouthStreetTemple.org: Chol Hamoed Sukkot (Intermediate Day), Exodus, Torah

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September 18, 2021

HA'AZINU, DEUTERONOMY 32:1-32:52

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: 

  • Paradigm Shift by Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi

  • The Times They Are A-Changing by Rabbi Neil Loevinger

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September 11, 2021

VAYEILECH, DEUTERONOMY 31:1-31:30

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• From MyJewishLearning.com: Commentary by Nancy Reuben Greenfield 

• From RabbiSacks.org: Consensus vs. Command by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks