Blessing and Curse
Aug 21, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Ki Tavo
This week鈥檚 portion contains some of the highest highs and lowest lows in the entire Torah鈥攐r in any other work of literature, for that matter. At the start of the parashah, Israelites in the wilderness are asked to picture what it will be like to testify, from inside the Land of Israel, that they have seen God鈥檚 promises of blessing fulfilled. At the end of the parashah, those same Israelites are subjected to 54 verses of terrifying curses detailing the punishments awaiting them 鈥渋f you fail to observe faithfully all the terms of this Teaching鈥� (Deut. 28:58).
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Jacob’s Fear
Nov 13, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Vayishlah
The Torah wants us to identify with the ancestors we meet in the book of Genesis; indeed, Abraham and Sarah and their children become our ancestors when we agree not only to read their stories, but to take them forward. Abraham 鈥渂egat鈥� Isaac in one sense by supplying the seed for his conception. He 鈥渂egat鈥� him as well by shaping the life that Isaac would live, setting its direction, digging wells that his son would re-dig, making Isaac鈥檚 story infinitely more meaningful鈥攁nd terrifying鈥攂y placing him in the line of partners with God in covenant. So it is with us.
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A Dress Code for Judaism
Feb 4, 2014 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Tetzavveh
I received a valuable insight into this week鈥檚 Torah portion over lunch one day about 20 years ago at the Stanford University Humanities Center. Across the table sat a female professor from China, newly arrived on her first visit to America. I was the first Jew she had ever met, and at some point the conversation shifted from the books we were writing to how Judaism differed from other faith traditions and communities in America. That鈥檚 when she startled me with an observation I shall never forget. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be significantly different from anyone else in this country. You are dressed exactly the same as they are.鈥�
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For Millennials and Their Families
Apr 10, 2014 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Shabbat Hagadol | Pesah
I gathered six students from JTS鈥檚 undergraduate Albert A. List College of 绿帽社 Studies in my office last week to talk about the ways in which family dynamics add meaning鈥攁nd tension鈥攖o family Passover seders. I wanted to find out how these dynamics play out at the seders of my students, and share their insights with you here鈥攎illennials and college students, teens and tweens鈥攊n the hope that our discussion about the holiday will enrich yours.
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Peacemaking and the Quest for Holiness
May 9, 2014 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Behar
The book of Leviticus could not be clearer on the point that extraordinary action is called for as part of the Israelite鈥檚 calling to be 鈥渉oly unto the Lord your God.鈥�
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Doing Violence for God
Jul 11, 2014 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Pinehas
What are we to think about Pinehas, son of Eleazar son of Aaron the high priest, after whom this week鈥檚 Torah portion is named?
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To Go Out of the Wilderness
Sep 1, 2012 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Ki Tetzei
This week鈥檚 Torah portion is directed at Israelites about to 鈥済o out鈥� of the wilderness; next week鈥檚 portion offers guidance to those about to 鈥渃ome in鈥� to the Promised Land. Deuteronomy is anxious for the Israelites to build a society distinct from the one that had enslaved them and no less distinct from the other societies and cultures that will surround them in the Land of Canaan. It wants a people united in their new nation-state鈥攁nd, to that end, propounds a series of wide-ranging laws designed to bring and keep them together.
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Choose Life and Torah
Sep 19, 2014 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Nitzavim | Vayeilekh
The Torah wants to speak to Children of Israel in every time and place, in a way that leads them鈥攍eads us鈥攖o carry forward the project that Moses has directed. It succeeds in that effort: we too are stirred by Moses鈥檚 language, compelled by his vision, moved to undertake responsibility for his Torah. Four passages in Parashat Nitzavim seem to me especially crucial to Moses鈥檚 teaching and our response.
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