Dear Scouts, Lately we get a lot of messages about the end of civilization. Think of all the movies, television shows and video games bringing you stories about fictional events like the zombie apocalypse, space alien attacks, out-of-control viruses and giant meteors striking Earth. These things probably will not happen, just like the prediction […]
Dear Scouts, In Parasha Behar, we learn of the Shmittah year. After six days of the week, we rest. After six years of being worked, the Land (literally) of Israel rests. During the seventh year, we are not permitted to plant or work the land, but we can harvest any crops that grow on […]
Dear Scouts, This week’s parsha, Emor, is named for the seventh Hebrew word in the opening sentence – emor means “say”. The sentence begins, “God said to Moses: Say to the Priests …” The word “say” usually means “open your mouth and speak words”. But the real meaning of “say” in this portion […]
Dear Scouts, This week, the parasha is named Kedoshim, meaning “holy,” as the opening sentence states: “God spoke to Moses saying, ‘Speak to the entire assembly of the children of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I am holy, the Lord your God.’” Among the many things that God […]
Dear Scouts, This week, the parasha is named Kedoshim, meaning “holy,” as the opening sentence states: “God spoke to Moses saying, ‘Speak to the entire assembly of the children of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I am holy, the Lord your God.’” Among the many things that God […]
Happy birthday to the State of Israel, which celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) next week! Dear Scouts: This week, we read the Parasha Acharei Mot. Acharei Mot is a very famous parasha, because it teaches the mitzvot relating to Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur seems a long way off, not until the fall. We’ve […]
Greetings from Israel. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Pesach. This week, outside of Israel, we will celebrate the seventh day of Pesach on Thursday night and Friday, and the eighth day on Shabbat. We have a special parasha for Shabbat, taken from Parasha Re’eh. In addition to reading this special parasha at […]
Dear Scouts, Greetings from Israel, where I am visiting two of my sons and their families for Passover. Tomorrow night, Jews all over the world will celebrate Passover by having a seder and reading the Haggadah. The most obvious meaning of the story of the Exodus is the deliverance of the Jewish […]
Dear Scouts, This week, we read Parasha Tazria. Much of it deals with tzaraas. Tzaraas was a disease which is usually described as leprosy, because of the way it made human flesh appear to be white and scaled. However, not only people, but also clothing and even houses in the Land of Israel could […]
Dear Scouts, This week, Parasha Shemini celebrates the completion of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) and the inauguration of the worship services by Aaron and his sons, the Kohanim (Priests). After a week of celebration, the last day – the eighth day – arrives. Aaron blesses the people. The offerings that the Kohanim prepare and place […]
Dear Scouts, I hope everyone had a great Purim this week! This week, Parasha Tzav discusses some symbols important to Scouting. The parasha has many instructions regarding the korbonot, the offerings of food that were cooked in the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) and later in the Temple; some parts of the offering were […]
Dear Scouts, This week, we begin the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) with a parasha of the same name. In his introduction to the Book of Vayikra, Ramban explains this is the book of instruction for the Kohanim (Priests) who would conduct the sacred services in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later in the Temple, […]
Dear Scouts, This week’s parsha, Pekudei, is the last of the book of Shemos (Exodus). We learn of God’s final instructions regarding the Mishkan (Tabernacle), details on the clothing of the priests, and the placement of the holy objects inside the Mishkan and its courtyard, such as the Altar, the Laver, the Table for […]
Dear Scouts, This week, in Parshat Vayahkel, Moses gathers the people to give them instructions from God. The first instruction is an explanation of the basic rule of Shabbat: “For a period of six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest […]
Dear Scouts, In this week’s parasha, Ki Sisa, we have some lessons about leaders and those they lead. The parasha begins with God’s instructions that, when Moses takes a census of the Children of Israel, he is to do so by collecting a half-shekel from each person over 20 years old. The words […]
Dear Scouts, Last week, we learned about the construction of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) and the many beautiful objects used there to conduct the holy services, such as the Holy Ark and the Menorah, both made of gold. This week, in Parashat Tetzaveh, we learn of the role of the Kohanim (Priests), Aaron and […]
This week, I write in memory of Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, US Army Chaplain and former Scoutmaster, one of the Four Chaplains who gave up their lives saving others in the sinking of the troop ship USS Dorchester, February 3, 1943. Dear Scouts: This week, in Parsha Terumah, God gives the Children of Israel detailed […]
Today, I write in honor of girls joining Scouts BSA for the first time. Welcome! Dear Scouts, Last week, in Parshat Yitro, we read about the giving of the Ten Commandments and Moses’ organization of courts of law at the suggestion of his father-in-law, Yitro. There are some interesting transitions in Yitro and […]
For the start of our 8th year, Derech Tsofeh is proud to present a d’var Torah by Rabbi Josh Feigelson, Dean of Students of the University of Chicago Divinity School. Rabbi Feigelson writes in memory of his father, long-time Scouter Lou Feigelson, who passed away recently. Dear Scouts, When I was 19 years […]
This week marks the conclusion of our seventh year of Derech Tsofeh. Thanks to our readers and guest writers. Join us next week for the beginning of year eight with a d’var by a special guest writer. Dear Scouts, In Parsha Beshalach, we see the final events of the Egyptian captivity. The shortest […]
Dear Scouts, In Parshat Bo, the Torah describes the final three plagues. It is a dark chapter in Egypt’s history – literally. Moses stretches his staff over Egypt and, by morning, an east wind sent by God carries locusts over the entire country. “It covered the sight of all the land and the land was […]
Dear Scouts, In this week’s parasha, Va’eira, we learn of Pharaoh’s refusal to allow the Children of Israel to leave Egypt and the first seven of the Ten Plagues. These are terrifying miracles: The water in the Nile (and everywhere else in Egypt except Goshen, where the Israelites live) turns to blood; frogs emerge […]
Dear Scouts: There was a lot of traveling back and forth in the Book of Bereshit (Genesis): Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, Noah rode on the flood for months on end, and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob traveled all over Canaan, North to Haran and Damascus, and East to the land […]
Dear Scouts, In this week’s parsha, Vayechi, we close the Book of Genesis and the story of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Jacob is 147 years old, and has Joseph swear that he will bury his father in Canaan in the Cave of Machpelah, where the other Patriarchs and Matriarchs (except Rachel) are buried. […]
Dear Scouts, This week, we study Parsha Vayigash – “he approached.” The approach this sentence describes is Judah approaching the Viceroy of Egypt, who Judah and the other brothers do not realize is their brother Joseph. But there are other important approaches we will discover. In last week’s parsha there is a touching scene where […]
Today, I study in memory of a dear friend to many of us, Louis “Lou” Feigelson, z”l, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who passed away on Wednesday – a lifetime Scout, Scoutmaster, Wood Badge trainer and Arrowman. His memory is a blessing, and he will be sorely missed. Dear Scouts, This week the drama […]
Dear Scouts: This week’s parasha, Vayeishev, is best known for the story of Joseph and his brothers. It also reveals the beginning of both the Jewish people’s descent to Egyptian slavery and our ultimate freedom. Joseph’s story follows a pattern in Genesis – the younger brother takes leadership of the family and the older brother(s) resent this. First […]
I hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Dear Scouts, This week, in Parasha Vayishlach, we pick up Jacob’s story as he leaves the home of Laban, his father-in-law, in Padan-aram. Jacob has lived there for 20 years and is traveling home to Canaan. Jacob’s brother Esau lives in Canaan, and Jacob […]
Dear Scouts: In this week’s parsha, Veyeitzei, we learn of Jacob’s wanderings. It follows a familiar pattern. Isaac does not want his son to marry a Canaanite woman, and sends him to his family in Padan-aram, to take a wife from household of his uncle, Laban. The journey begins with a dream, in […]
This week we feature one of our “classic” divrei Torah from Jordan Block, Eagle Scout, former Assistant Scoutmaster and rabbinical student. Dear Scouts, This week, in Parshas Toldos, Yitzchak Avinu (our father Isaac) and Rivkah Imeinu (our mother Rebecca) are going to have a baby! Unbeknownst to Rivkah at first, there are actually […]
This week, I write in memory of the 11 Jewish men and women killed at the Tree of Life congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and for refuah shlemah (complete recovery) of the six people who were wounded, including four police officers who rushed into the synagogue to help. Information about the victims may be found here. […]
Fellow Scouters: We all face the dilemma of how to deal with the shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue when we next meet with our Scouts. The event is too important to go unmentioned, and at the same time too sensitive be addressed without a great deal of thought. Each week, I try to […]
This week, I offer our d’var Torah in memory of my father-in-law, Milton Freedman (Mendel ben Sholom), whose jahrzeit was this week. He was the grandfather of five Eagle Scouts. Like our Patriarch Abraham, he was a generous, caring and gracious host. Dear Scouts, One of the things I like about the heroes of Torah is that […]
Dear Scouts, This week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, starts the story of the Jewish people with the first Jews, Abram (from av Aram, the “father” or “elder of Aram,” the land of his birth) and Sarai (“my princess”). Later in the parasha, God will change their names to Abraham and Sarah. The parasha also introduces several […]
This week’s d’var Torah is in memory of my mother, Ethel Block, Etel bas Avraham Avigdor, whose jarhzeit is next week. She was the sister, mother and grandmother of Scouts, including five Eagle Scouts. Dear Scouts, When people think about this week’s parsha, Noah, they usually think about water – how it rained […]
Dear Scouts, This week, we again start the cycle of Torah portions, with Parasha Bereishis. In the very first chapter of the Torah God makes everything there is just by saying things. “God said, ‘Let there be light’”. (v. 3) “God said, “Let there be a firmament [the heavens]’”. (v. 6) This was […]
Dear Scouts: I hope you are having good weather for Sukkot! This Shabbat we have a special Torah reading, because it is one of the chol hamoed (intermediate) days of the festival. The reading comes from Parasha Ki Sisa; the special portion is Exodus 33:12 to 34:26. In this special portion, Moses is speaking to […]
Tonight I write in honor of a baby girl born on Monday in Jerusalem to Jordan and Chana Oshira Block. Jordan is a frequent contributor to Derech Tsofeh. Everyone is doing well. Also, welcome to several new members of this list, who have just joined Scouting! Dear Scouts: This Sunday night, we begin […]
Happy 5779. As is our custom, in preparation for Yom Kippur, we republish thoughts from Jordan Block on forgiveness. Jordan, an Eagle Scout, is a rabbinic student at Yeshiva Ohr Someach in Jerusalem. We offer prayers for those who are in the path of hurricanes and storms. Dear Scouts: Yom Kippur is coming. […]
Dear Scouts, In Parasha Nitzavim, we read (Deut. 30:11-14) that the Torah is not in heaven, so that people would ask “Who can ascend to the heaven … for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it?” Nor is it across the sea, so that people would […]
