Joe Nalven – September 29, 2022 Rebekah’s Choice ─ Toldot Summary[i] Toldot ─ Genesis 25:19 – 28:9 Isaac prays on behalf of Rebekah for a child and it was answered. The twins in Rebekah’s womb, Jacob and Esau, struggle within her. Rebekah asks God why she is...
Divine or Human? The Dire Consequences of Curses (Deuteronomy 31 Vayeilech) By Joe Nalven Summary: Parashat Vayeilech[i] (“and he went”), Deuteronomy 31, tells about Moses’ last day of life. He says to all of Israel: “I am now one hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able...
Shabbat Shuvah September 26, 2020 / Deuteronomy 32: Ha’azinu Ha’azinu: Leaders Speak: Ancient Israel and Modern America Summary Moses and the Lord rebuke the Children of Israel in Moses’ song (poem[i]) to them. After completing his song, God tells Moses to go up Mt. Nebo to see the...
Shabbat Shuvah October 5, 2019 Vayelech: Incomplete Leadership Models Summary: Parashat Vayelech (“and he went”), Deuteronomy 31, tells about Moses’ last day of life. He says to all of Israel: “I am now one hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD...
Shabbat Shuvah ─ Vayelech ─ And he went September 15, 2018 / 6th of Tishrei, 5779 by Joe Nalven Torah summaries[i] for Vayelech generally ignore the significant, yet terrible, verse Deuteronomy 31:3: The LORD your God Himself will cross over before you; and He Himself will wipe out those nations...
Chukat Numbers 19:1–22:1 Dvar by Joe Nalven, June 23, 2018 The Red Heifer Puzzle Summary[i] Moses and Aaron are told the ritual of the Red Heifer and commanded to tell it to the Children of Israel. The ashes of the Red Heifer purifies those who have been contaminated by contact...
Ha’azinu [Listen] Deuteronomy 32 DVAR / Shabbat Shuvah / September 21, 2017 by Joe Nalven For the last several years I’ve given a dvar on Shabbat Shuva. Each year I take a different direction. Last year, I considered the various ways that we can read Deuteronomy 31, verse...
Dvar by Joseph Oppenheimer, July 8, 2017, at the Beth Israel Minyan marking the 77th anniversary of his bar mitzvah Shabbat shalom! I feel blessed to be here today to celebrate with this minyan and my family and friends the 77th anniversary of my bar mitzvah. The world is a far...
December 31, 2016 / 2nd of Tevet, 5777 As I reach out my hand to grasp the meaning of this day, I can see my fingers curl around a multiplicity of ideas and memories: 1) today’s Torah reading of Genesis 41 (Miketz) in which Joseph interprets the Pharaoh’s dreams; and...
Presented by Joe Nalven 10/8/16 Last year I gave a dvar on Shabbat Shuva. The path I will take today goes in a different direction. Last year, I picked up the themes of Moses not being able to enter Israel, his struggle with envy over Joshua’s emerging relationship with God, and...
