Read & Listen

After weeks of journeying from the Red Sea, the Children of Israel arrive at the foot of Mount Sinai. There, after careful preparations, they hear the voice of God and receive what are known in English as the Ten Commandments.

Beshalakh is a momentous Torah portion. Pharaoh, his kingdom in ruins, has finally let the Children of Israel go.

Our Torah tells an ageless and inspiring story. Every year when our cycle of readings brings us to the telling of the Exodus from slavery, I am stirred once again by the central message of our people’s journey: We affirm that there is a Power inherent in the fabric of the universe that insists that human beings be free from subjugation and tyranny ...

Moses, the reluctant prophet, has returned to his home in Egypt with a seemingly impossible mission.

This week we begin the book of Exodus, a book that changed the world. With this story, the Torah introduces a new paradigm to human affairs.

Step back 2,500 – 3,000 years to the days of King David and the First Temple.

In Jewish practice, when remembering a loved one, especially a parent, it is customary to honor their memory by teaching some Torah in their name. I wish to remember my father by sharing the story of the mysterious way our lives and family history intersected and merged with the Torah reading of that week.

A survey of Israeli songs, highlighting the recent trends of spirituality and cultural diversity in Israeli mainstream music.