On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Vayeitzei: Hate Will Not Define Us
In Parashat Vayeitzei, Jacob leaves Beersheba and sets out on a journey full of potential danger and panic. Reading this parashah only a few weeks after the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings, it especially resonates this year.
Stories We Tell: Honesty's Reward
Wholly Jewish: Gina: The Path I’ve Chosen
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah --Tol'dot: The Value in Both Esau and Jacob
Parashat Tol’dot tells the story of Esau and Jacob—two archetypes. Most people have a little bit of Esau and Jacob in them, even though Esau hasn’t historically been an honored typology in Jewish life.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Tol'dot: Who Will Carry Our Tradition Forward?
Many of us know the story of Jacob and Esau, the brothers who could not be more different from one another.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Tzav: Courageous Choices
This week's Torah portion, Parashat Tzav, is read around Purim, a story of mythic (and even improbable) proportions that remains enduringly relevant to Jewish Diaspora life and anti-Jewish persecution throughout the centuries.
Stories We Tell: Ezra's Sparkle
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Sh'mini: The Dangers and the Neccessity of Innovation
In this week's Torah portion, Parashat Sh'mini, we learn about the sudden deaths of Nadav and Avihu, two sons of Aaron the High Priest. Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch wrote that their sin was innovation.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Nitzavim: Why Organ Donation is Jewish
Parashat Nitzavim features the phrase “choose life,” but what does it mean to choose life? One way of choosing life is by becoming an organ donor. Rabbi Jacobs discusses why this lifesaving choice is part of his Jewish values in this episode of On the Other Hand.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Tzav: How to Be a Leader
Parashat Tzav opens with a command to Aaron, the high priest. It’s a moment to think about leadership – who are our leaders and what do they do? Are our leaders born into the role, like Aaron, or are they called to leadership, like Moses?