Dear Scouts, In the double portion of Tazria-Metzora, having completed the building of theMishkan (Tabernacle) and the inauguration of the Kohanim and the Mishkan itself, the Torah turns us to learning the laws of ritual purity (tuma) and impurity (tahara). Many of these laws no longer apply, because we no longer have the Temple. The laws are confusing to us today. […]
Dear Scouts, During the last few weeks, we have learned about the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that would serve as the place where the Children of Israel would worship God, the offerings to be made there, and the duties of the Kohanim (priests) in performing the services. Last week, in Parasha Tzav, we learned about the first seven days of […]
Dear Scouts, I hope everyone is having a good Passover. This week, because Shabbat is the seventh day of Passover, our Shabbat Torah reading is a special reading, from Parasha Beshalach. It is my pleasure to reprise a favorite d’var Torah from Rabbi Josh Feigelson, Eagle Scout and executive director of the Institute for Jewish […]
Dear Scouts, This week’s parasha, Tzav, teaches us an important lesson about continuity. Tzav continues the Book of Leviticus’s instructions about the Kohanim (Priests) and the holy services to be conducted in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and later the Temple. God gives us instructions about several of the offerings made in the Mishkan. The last several passages are about the week-long inauguration of the Mishkan, […]
Dear Scouts, This week, Parasha Vayikra teaches us all about the korbanot (offerings) that were offered in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The korbanot are a little hard for modern people to understand. A person who needed to atone for a sin he committed by accident would bring a kosher animal to the Mishkan. The person would rest his hands on the animal’s head (this act is […]
Dear Scouts: This week, we close the book of Shemos (Exodus) with the double portion of Vayakhel and Pekudei. The two portions are read on separate Shabbats during a leap year in the Jewish calendar. We end as we began, with an accounting. Shemos starts with a description of the “70 souls” who entered Egypt with Jacob. […]
Dear Scouts, In Parashat Ki Sisa this week, God commands Moses to take a census of the Israelites, with the count to be made by having every adult man pay a half-shekel. “The wealthy shall not increase and the destitute shall not decrease from half a shekel.” The money is to be used for the work of building the Mishkan (Tablernacle) […]
Dear Scouts, I hope you are having a happy Purim. Here’s a Purim Derech Tsofeh from a few years ago – one of my favorites, written with my son Jordan. When you heard the Megillah, did you notice that its characters exemplify the twelve points of the Scout Law? Trustworthy – The Jewish people kept […]
Dear Scouts, This week, in Parasha Terumah we receive God’s instructions regarding the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). During the last two weeks, God has instructed the Israelites in the basic laws of Judaism. In Parasha Yitro, God handed down the Ten Commandments. Then, in Parasha Mishpatim God gives the basic laws of community life, […]
Dear Scouts, Last week, we learned of the Aseret Hadivrot – the Ten Commandments. Hadivrot also has the root deber – speak. God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel by speaking them. Some scholars translate Aseret Hadivrot as the Ten Statements. So last week’s lesson was about God’s statements. This week, in Parashat Mishpatim, we learn about listening to God’s statements. The parasha begins with a list […]
This week, we celebrate the start of the ninth year of Derech Tsofeh with a guest d’var Torah by Rabbi Art Vernon, Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting. Dear Scouts, In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Yitro, the Jewish people have arrived at Mt. Sinai on their way from Egypt to the land […]
This week’s d’var comes from Rabbi David Lyon, senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel, Houston, Texas (founded in 1854), in honor of the anniversaries of Troop 806 (40 years) and Pack 806 (35 years), both chartered to the Brotherhood of the Congregation. This week also marks the completion of the 8th year of Derech Tsofeh. […]
Dear Scouts, Last week, we learned of seven plagues that God imposed upon the Egyptians. This week, in parasha Bo, God brings three more plagues upon Egypt. First is swarms of locusts: “It covered the surface of the entire land and the land was darkened.” (Exodus 10:15) Next comes three days of a foggy darkness, followed by […]
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 […]
