Noah (Gen. 6:9-11:32) Torah reading for October 25, 2025: Torah is All About Protecting Immigrants
I wish I could share an interpretation of the Torah portion with a lighter touch this week. But as we read the story of a devastating flood, the building of an ark to save one human family, and the rescue of animals to preserve the bio-diversity of creation, dramatic actions are also occurring in our […]
Simchat Torah – Big Enough for both Grief and Joy
This week, we hope with all our hearts that the Israeli hostages will return home beginning Monday and that and that the ceasefire agreement will lead to an end to the violence and suffering of Israelis and Palestinians. With all our souls we hope, pray and envision the coming year as a time when healing […]
Haazinu ( Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 ) Torah Reading for Shabbat, October 4, 2025
This past Yom Kippur morning we just read about a key moment in the history of the Jewish people. The Israelites are assembled and about to enter the Promised Land; Moses addresses everyone, saying “choose life that you and your descendants might live”. CHOOSE LIFE collectively, meaning as a community. Thankfully we did make that […]
Lech L’cha (Genesis 12:1-17:27) Torah Reading Nov. 1, 2025: Ancestral Namedropping
November 3, 2025 by Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller • D'var Torah
This week, we begin reading the narrative of Abraham and Sarah. They are the first Jews, (though they don’t yet go by this name) and the first of the ancestors we invoke in prayer. When, in the opening blessing of the Amidah, we invoke their names by saying that God is the God of Abraham, […]