Torah and Today

In recent months, antisemitism has moved from lurking in the shadows to being alarmingly out in the open. According to the ADL, over 10,000 antisemitic incidents were reported in the U.S. in the year following October 7.

What drives this phenomenon? Is it a product of the right or the left? While Israel has numerous friends in the United States, antisemitism exists across the political spectrum.

What do we make of this paradox? How do we understand antisemitism when it comes to us from opposite directions? The Torah teaches us how to understand the great spectacles of Jewish history…including antisemitism.

According to early Christianity, Jews not accepting Jesus stood in the way of global.  Jesus eventually became a profoundly influential figure through the gospels. According to those gospels, Jesus claimed to be the king of Israel.

What do we make of this claim? Did Jesus believe he was the fulfillment of the Hebrew prophetic vision of Messiah?  To make sense of this, we explore that background of Jewish monarchy and more.

Chanukah is not only a time for celebrating with latkes and donuts, but it’s a gateway talking about our faith in HaShem. Meaningful conversation about our connection to God is vital in addressing mental health challenges and the “Meaning Crisis.”

When Yaakov was running and destitute, he dedicated a house of God with a flask of oil and a single stone. In so doing, he initiated our Jewish connection to the Har HaBayit (Temple Mount) in Jerusalem.

As Jews, we continue along his path of dedicating holy space wherever our journey takes us. How do we find or consecrate holy space in our lives, especially when we find ourselves—like Yaakov—in a place of desperation?

The month of Kislev brings us Chanukah, one of the most powerful symbols of the Jewish people. And one of the most poignant symbols of Chanukah is the Driedel. What does this children’s toy teach us about being Jewish in or outside of the land of Israel?

It’s that time of when year end holidays are in the air. But this can be a challenging time for those struggling with loneliness, including people who want to be grandparents. Why are many young adults choosing to remain child-free, and what is Judaism’s message for them?

Plus, Jewish Emunah (faith) and gratitude to God were an inspiration for the people who gave us the modern holiday of Thanksgiving.

It’s hard to think of a more influential person in human history than Avraham. The prophet Isaiah teaches us that this influential figure and founder of Israel was beloved to HaShem. But why did God love Avraham? The answer to this question—alluded to in Genesis 18, 19—is a key for understanding how we shine our light into today’s world.

The life of Ruth and the Chag of Shavuot helps us to connect with a path that can immediately change our lives for the better: gratitude.

The Jewish people face unprecedented challenges in our times. How do we prepare for the future in these days of great trials? 2,600 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah taught us a lesson in faith in a time when destruction was at the door—literally. His act of audacious hope is beckons us today.

The generation that returned from Bavel to Jerusalem reveled in their “rediscovery” of the Chag of Sukkos. Their modest celebration holds a lesson for our lives.