The Past Hurts
By Rabbi Nathan Kamesar This past Shabbat we studied that ever-troublesome parashah (Torah portion) called Toldot that includes the moment when our ancestor Rebecca overhears that her ailing husband Isaac is preparing to give his final, all-important blessing to the barely-older twin Esau rather than her beloved barely-younger twin Jacob. We read that she quickly takes action: when Isaac […]
In Kindness We Trust
By Rabbi Nathan Kamesar This past Shabbat we studied the weekly portion called Hayyei Sarah, meaning “the Life of Sarah,” which begins, notably, with the passing of that foremost matriarch. After her death we encounter a series of episodes in the lives of our ancestors, including Abraham, now a widower, concerned that his and Sarah’s only son, […]
Dealing with Uncertainty
By Rabbi Nathan Kamesar This past Shabbat we read that perhaps most famous of all parshiyot (Torah portions): vayera. Vayera means “and he appeared,” referring to the divine presence appearing before our foremost ancestor Abraham, communicating to him and his wife Sarah that they would indeed have a son, their old age notwithstanding. The parsha’s notoriety comes not from this moment alone […]
Our Democracy
By Rabbi Nathan Kamesar I have always loved Election Day. The ideal of having an engaged citizenry collectively come together—millions of us, across the states—recognizing that our well-being is wrapped up in one another’s; that our lives are, for better or for worse, in one another’s hands (as made all the more clear by this […]