Dear Scouts, This week, the name of our parasha, Va’Eira – “I appeared” – sets the stage for what happens throughout the rest of the portion, one of the most eventful and dramatic in all of the Torah. Last week, Pharaoh became angry when Moses demanded that the Israelites be allowed to leave Egypt to worship […]
Dear Scouts: This week’s parasha, Shemot, is the beginning of the book of Exodus, and the start of our story of the Exodus from Egypt. Joseph dies and a new king arises over Egypt “who did not know Joseph”. Pharaoh gradually enslaves the Jews. He is afraid the Israelites have become so numerous and strong they […]
Dear Scouts: Sometimes, you just want to go home. This week, in Parasha Vayechi, we read about the last days of Jacob. He has had a hard life, much of it spent away from his home in Canaan. Jacob lived his early years in fear of his “evil twin” Esau, who resented Jacob for stealing his birthright. […]
Dear Scouts, This week, in Parasha Vayigash we learn the last chapter of Joseph’s journey in Egypt. In last week’s parasha we saw all the brothers gathered before Joseph. When the brothers were leaving from their visit to get more food, Joseph had his servant hide his silver goblet in Benjamin’s saddle bags. Once the brothers begin their […]
Dear Scouts, This week, in Parasha Vayigash we learn the last chapter of Joseph’s journey in Egypt. In last week’s parasha we saw all the brothers gathered before Joseph. When the brothers were leaving from their visit to get more food, Joseph had his servant hide his silver goblet in Benjamin’s saddle bags. Once the brothers begin their […]
Dear Scouts: When we left Joseph last week, in Parasha Vayeishev, his brothers had sold him to a caravan of merchants on their way to Egypt. In Egypt, he was again sold, this time as a servant in the home of Pharaoh’s chief butcher, Potiphar. After a time, Potiphar was given custody of two other members of […]
Dear Scouts, This week, in Parasha Vayeishev, we learn that having a special talent can be useful or harmful, depending on how you use it. Joseph, one of 12 brothers, is the son of Jacob’s beloved Rachel. Jacob favors him, and even gives him a beautiful coat of many colors. His brothers, almost all of whom are […]
Happy Thanksgiving! One of the things I am thankful for are my three wonderful daughters-in-law, one of whom, Jocelyn Block, has provided our d’var Torah this week. Dear Scouts, In last week’s parasha, Toldot, in a highly dramatic scene, Jacob steals the blessings that his father, Isaac, intended to give to his brother, Esau. This […]
Dear Scouts, In parasha Toldot, we learn of the interesting family life of Isaac and Rebecca. Rebecca is unable to have children for many years. Isaac prays for her, and God answers by giving her twins. Esau is born first. Then Jacob comes, holding on to Esau’s heel. We will see there was a purpose in this. […]
This week I write in memory of two wonderful leaders of the worldwide Jewish community who passed away during the last week: Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (rabbisacks.org/), and Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, celebrated teacher, scholar and authority on Jewish law (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovid_Feinstein). Dear Scouts: This week’s parasha is Chayei Sarah – […]
Dear Scouts: This week we read parasha Vayeira. “Vayeira” means “appears” and we learn of many times that God appears to Abraham. We also learn of many times God presents Abaraham with a difficult situation to resolve, often called a trial. The first appearance is at the beginning of the parasha where the 99-year-old Abraham is recovering from having […]
This week’s d’var Torah is in memory of my father-in-law, Milton Freedman (Mendel ben Sholom) whose jarhzeit is this weekend. He was the proud grandfather of many Scouts, including five Eagles. Dear Scouts: This week, we read Parashat Lech Lecha, which tells us the story of the travels of Abraham and his wife, Sarah. (His name is Abram […]
I write this week in memory of my beloved mother, Ethel Poliakoff Block (Etel bat Avraham Avigdor), whose jahrzeit is next week. She was the sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of many Scouts, including five Eagles, and an active supporter of Scouting. Dear Scouts, This week, in Parasha Noach, we read about the great Flood that covered […]
Dear Scouts, My favorite time of day is twilight, and especially so on campouts: The day’s activities are over, many hours of camping fun and accomplishments leave us with a kind of satisfying fatigue, dinner has filled us up, and we are ready for a few hours of relaxation. Nature is turning, as well: We hear […]
Dear Scouts, On Shabbat, we celebrate Shemini Atzeret, an extra holiday at the end of Sukkot. The parasha is several passages from Re’eh, Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17, which is also read on the last day of Pesach and the second day of Shavuot. It deals with several topics, including the second tithe, special laws of the seventh […]
Dear Scouts: Friday night we begin the festival of Sukkot, called in Hebrew Z’man Simchateneu, the “Season of Our Gladness”. There are many aspects of Our Gladness: It is a time of harvest in Israel. It begins the rainy season in Israel, a generally dry land which relies on fall rains. We rejoice after our […]
This week, I study in memory of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Shabbat. Justice Ginsburg was a beloved figure in the American justice system, having been a champion of civil rights. She was the second woman ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court. May her memory be a blessing. This Shabbat, the […]
Dear Scouts: This weekend, on Shabbat and Sunday, we will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. In these days of COVID-19, we will celebrate somewhat differently than usual. We will gather with our families, but perhaps with fewer members of our extended family. Many synagogues and temples are having services with special arrangements to […]
Dear Scouts, This year, we read two parashot on this week before Rosh Hashonah: Nitzavim and Vayelich. They have a common theme of the future. Nitzavim looks to the future for generations to come. At the end of last week’s parasha, Ki Savo, as the Children of Israel are about to enter Canaan, Moses had […]
Dear Scouts: I love it when we can mix a merit badge skill with Judaism, and that’s exactly what we see in the beginning of Parashat Ki Tavo. Here, God gives us the mitzvah of offering the Bikkurim (“first fruits”) – the newly ripe fruits of our crops were taken to the Temple and sacrificed in gratitude to God for giving us […]
This week I study in the hope of a complete recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Texas, and the fires in California. Dear Scouts: This week, we read Parashat Ki Seitzei. This portion instructs the Children of Israel for many situations they will find ki seitzei, “when you go out.” The first sentence talks about a […]
This week, I study with a prayer the terrible fires in California will end soon. Dear Scouts: This week, in parasha Shoftim, Moses teaches the Children of Israel about law and leadership. There are laws about avoiding the practices of idol worshipers, such as creating “sacred” trees and pillars, laws about avoiding false prophets, appointing a king, […]
Dear Scouts, In Parasha Re’eh, as Moses continues to prepare the Children of Israel to enter Canaan, a number of important aspects of daily life go from formality and ritual to very basic rules. During their time in the Wilderness, the Israelites received detailed instructions about the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the construction of its beautiful hangings and vessels and how […]
Dear Scouts, This week, in Parasha Eikev, Moses continues his review of certain important commandments given earlier in the Torah. He emphasizes all that God has done for the Children of Israel in bringing them out of Egypt using signs and wonders, and safeguarding them on their journey to the land promised to the Patriarchs. Moses tells […]
Dear Scouts, Imagine you and your patrol buddies sitting around your last campfire after a week of backpacking. You talk about the places you saw, and the things that happened there. How Jeremy fell into the creek when he was filling his canteen with water. The scurry to find shelter in the meadow when […]
Dear Scouts: This week’s parasha, Pinchas, is about change. The Children of Israel are making changes to prepare to enter the Land of Israel. In last week’s parasha, Balak, we learned how Moabite king Balak hired Balaam to curse the Israelites; but Balaam was only able to speak the words God told him, […]
Dear Scouts, This week we read two parashot, Chukas and Balak. Chukas includes several important events. First is the mitzvah of the Red Heifer (the Para Adumah), the procedure by which an entirely red cow is slaughtered and burned together with cedar, hyssop and a piece of crimson wool. The ashes of the […]
Several years ago, Rabbi Debbie Israel, spiritual leader of Cong. Emeth, Morgan Hill, CA and a supporter of Scouting, wrote a d’var Torah for this week’s parasha. We reprint her d’var this week in honor of her retirement from the pulpit this Shabbat. Kol hakovod (all honor to you) for your dedicated service. Dear Scouts, […]
Dear Scouts, In this week’s parasha, Shelach, we continue a theme begun last week in Parashat Beha’alotcha. At the end of theparasha, Miriam shares with Aaron something personal about their brother, Moses, which is not true. Even though she loved Moses and meant to help him correct something she thought was an error on […]
Dear Scouts, In this week’s parasha, Beha’alotcha, we learn some interesting lessons about leadership. Some men who had become contaminated by taking care of a dead body and were therefore ritually impure were unable to fulfill the mitzvah of keeping Pesach. They ask Moses why they should be diminished in this way. Moses does not […]
In the Diaspora (the countries outside Israel where Jews live) most congregations read Parasha Naso this week. In Israel and some Diaspora congregations that celebrated only one day of Shavuot, they read Parasha Naso last week, and will read Parasha Behalotecha this week. In four weeks, we who read Naso this week will read two […]
Dear Scouts: This week, starting Thursday night, after 49 days of counting the Omer, we celebrate Shavuot and the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. On the first day of Shavuot, we read the Megillat Rut, the Book of Ruth. Ruth’s story has many connections to this season. It occurs during the […]
Dear Scouts: In this week’s parasha, Bamidbar, God once again gives order and purpose to the lives of the Jewish people. God takes a census of all the “men of war” – those men over 20 years old. The tribe of Levi is counted separately because it will be devoted to God’s service. God establishes […]
Dear Scouts: This week, we read the double parashot of Behar and Behukatai. Last week, in Parashat Emor, we were given the mitzvah of counting the Omer – seven weeks (49 days) between the second night of Passover and the festival of Shavuot on the fiftieth day. The counting of the Omer marks […]
Dear Scouts, In Parasha Emor this week, the Torah covers a number of topics: laws regarding the purity of the Kohanim, including whom they can marry, what physical problems would disqualify them from performing duties in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and who is entitled to eat from the holy offerings of the Mishkan; what physical […]
This weekend is the BSA National Camp-in. If you want to participate in real-time on Saturday you can join via this link, but pre-registration is suggested: https://www.scouting.org/campin/ If you do not use electronics on Shabbat, BSA advises your local council website should have a link to see the event on Sunday (or perhaps Saturday night). […]
This week, I write in celebration of Yom Hazikaron (Israel Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) which occur next week. Dear Scouts: Our double parashot this week, Tazria-Metzora, goes into great detail discussing the affliction of tzaraas and the treatment of those afflicted. Tzaraas is often mistakenly called leprosy, which is a disease […]
This week in preparation for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel) next Monday night and Tuesday, I study in memory of my great-grandmother, Rachel Leah Chodesh Poliakoff, and her daughter, who were murdered during the Holocaust. Dear Scouts, In Parashat Shemini, we learn about the inauguration ceremony for the Mishkan (Tabernacle). After […]
Dear Scouters, I know all units want to provide social media content their Scouts can do on their own during the Covid-19 emergency. Here’s a 49-day exercise your Scouts can do while being Reverent – counting the Omer! (Apologies for posting so close to yom tov.) Below is (a) a link to a […]
Program Note: If you are studying for or completing your bar or bat mitzvah you can work with your rabbi, cantor or religious school teachers to complete the Ner Tamid emblem for Scouts BSA. Your studies and efforts will prepare you to easily complete nearly 70 percent of the requirements. The Ner Tamid emblem will […]
