The Texture of Shadows
The author of this poem write it from Esau's perspective in this week's Torah portion.
Related Blog Posts on Torah Study
5 Ways to Use Our New Online Torah Translations
Thanks to the Central Conference of American Rabbis, an English translation of each week’s Torah portion is now available on ReformJudaism.org. Here are five ways to use this important resource.
Leading Torah Study and Framing the Message
What does it mean to lead a Torah study? When we sit with congregants, friends, are guests in different communities, what is it we are doing when we are given the honor to lead a Torah study?
How Honoring My Mother's Memory Keeps Her Spirit Alive
I think of my mother, Ann (Chana) of blessed memory, every day. As the yahrzeit (anniversary) of her death approaches, however, more and more, my thoughts focus on her. This year will mark 22 years since she passed away and I feel the need to honor her memory in a special manner that will be meaningful to me.
At this point in my life, I am over the initial loss. Nevertheless, certain things such as learning Torah or performing mitzvot (commandments) in her memory not only comfort and strengthen me, they also keep her spirit alive for me in a tangible way.
The Forever of Us: A Poem for Shavuot
The rabbis tell us that when it came time to receive Torah, we were all there – yes, all of us.
The Mystery of the Fifth Cup: Why Elijah?
Rabbi Simeon J. Maslin reveals why, of all our biblical luminaries, it is Elijah who visits our homes on Passover, and why we welcome the prophet to our seder table with his own dedicated cup of wine.
Do We Still Need an Orange on the Seder Plate?
The heroism of the women who made Passover possible is a strong and accurate answer to those who claim that women always play a secondary or subordinate role in Jewish thinking. An orange does not make their case. Telling their story does.
What Is Your Egypt? A Poem for the Exodus
As I tried to respond to the writing prompt, "What is your Egypt?" - wrestling with the idea of stranger, of knowing his heart, of Egypt and slavery and being freed - this poem came tumbling out.
Writing the Torah and Honoring the Name of God
There was such joy in his voice as Rabbi Kevin Hale talked about going to the river near his house to wash himself in a mikveh (ritual bath) before writing the name of God in the Torah scroll he worked on.
Letters gather into words.
Holding One Another On Our Shoulders
This passage is excerpted from a d’var Torah shared at the URJ Biennial convention's Shacharit service focused on tikkun olam, repair of the world.
The poet Naomi Shihab Nye tells this story:
A man crosses the street in rain, Stepping gently, looking two
