Torah in the Face of Tragedy
Mar 9, 1996 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Ki Tissa
The month of Adar has hardly been a herald of joy for our people this year, as it traditionally is.
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Memory: Judaism’s Lifeblood
Mar 2, 1996 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Purim
My father died 14 years ago. This week I will observe his Yahrzeit once again.
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A Hardened Heart
Nov 7, 1998 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Va'era
“To harden the heart” is a figure of speech that goes back to the book of Exodus.
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Judaism and the Afterlife
Jan 6, 1996 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Vayehi
The title of this week’s parasha is full of irony.
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A Bold Exegetical Gambit
Nov 2, 1995 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Vayetzei
Why does Jacob abandon the security of his parents home in Beer-sheba?
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Political Extremism in Hebron
Nov 9, 1996 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Hayyei Sarah
Our parasha opens with the death of Sarah at the age of 127. Later in the parasha, when Abraham will breathe his last “at a good ripe age, old and contented (Genesis 25:8),” he will have celebrated 175 birthdays.
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Abraham the Noble Warrior
Nov 4, 1995 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Lekh Lekha
The Torah does not give us a complete biography of Abraham, only a series of striking vignettes.
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Praying for Rain
Sep 25, 1995 By Ismar Schorsch | Commentary | Sukkot
Rainfall has been sparse this summer in much of the northeast, and the reservoirs of New York City are some 24% lower than normal for this time of year.
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