Rabbi | Adath Israel

Ki Tavo – the stories we tell ourselves

Ki Tavo – summary “Ki Tavo,” means “when you come”, and that means when you, as the collective Israel, come to the Land of Israel, the promised land. It opens with the declaration of the farmer bringing the first fruits to give to the kohanim in the...

Ki Tetze – the soul in exile

Our portion is Ki Tetze – which means “when you go out”. The laws that follow are laws regarding what happens when you – the Jewish person – go out to war, and the limitations imposed by Torah to certain behaviors, specifically around beautiful women of the conquered....

Shoftim – guarding our gates

“Shoftim,” means “Judges” – The portion begins with the commandment to appoint judges and police in every city. “Justice, justice shall you pursue” is the most famous half-sentence of our reading – justice needs to happen without...

Bamidbar – Being hefker, being free, being open

The name of the Parshah, “Bamidbar,” means “In the desert”. It opens with God commanding Moshe and Aaron to conduct a census of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi is counted separately becausethey serve in the Sanctuary as kohanim...