Dear Scouts: The founder of the Order of the Arrow, Dr. E. Urner Goodman, used to say that leaders could either lead up or down. In parsha Korach this week, we read about leaders who led down – in more ways than one. Korach is a member of one of the most distinguished families among […]

Dear Scouts,   After many years of being ignored, the neckerchief is once again a popular part of the Scout uniform.   Back when I was a young Scout, a we always wore a neckerchief with uniform.   They were 100% cotton and pretty sturdy, and we used them as bandages when practicing first aid […]

Dear Scouts,   In this week’s parsha, Behaalotecha, we learn of many separations.   God commands Moses to light the Menorah, which has seven lamps. Doing so creates a separation between the light and darkness, as the Torah says, “The seven lamps shall cast light on the Menorah.”   Then God commands Moses to separate […]

Howdy! I write to you from Dallas, Texas and the national annual meeting of the Boy Scouts of America. This week the National Jewish Committee on Scouting has been meeting, working to bring Scouting to more Jewish youth. You can help by inviting a friend to join you in the fun and adventure of Scouts! […]

This weekend we celebrate Shavuot, the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Dear Scouts: This week, we begin the book of Bamidbar (which means “In the Desert” but is usually called “Numbers” in English referring to all the counting that goes on) with the parsha Bamidbar. This parasha is all about organization; it’s […]

Dear Scouts: After Passover, we learned about the seven weeks of the Counting of the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer). Recall the number 7 represents completion, and how Sefirat HaOmer commemorates our completion of the journey from the spiritual slavery of ancient Egypt to the spiritual freedom represented by the Torah. The Torah teaches us that real freedom […]

Dear Scouts:   This week’s parasha, Pinchas, includes a favorite episode of mine from the wanderings in the Wilderness.   As the Children of Israel prepare to enter the Land that God has promised to their ancestors, God has Moses and Elazar the Kohen take a census, and gives instructions for determining how to divide the Land. Within […]

Dear Scouts: This week’s parsha, Emor, shows us an interesting example of continuity. For the last few weeks we have learned about the new life that the Jewish people will lead when they enter their Land. Much of the instruction – the mitzvot – has centered around the worship of God: building a Tabernacle where we can […]

Dear Scouts: This week, we learn the dual portions Acharei Mot and Kedoshim (holy things). The parsha is an elaboration on mitzvot that God has already given the Jewish people in the Ten Commandments:  I am God. Do not worship idols. Respect your father and mother. Observe Shabbat. The parsha also teaches us to be […]

This week, I write in memory of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, a famous scholar and leader of the Jewish community, whose yahrzeit was this week. Dear Scouts, In the double portion of Tazria-Metzora, having completed the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the inauguration of the Kohanim and the Mishkan itself, the Torah turns us to […]

This week, as we complete Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), I study in memory of my great-grandmother, Rachel Leah Chodesh Poliakoff and her daughter, who were killed during the Holocaust. Dear Scouts, For several weeks before Passover, we learned about the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that would serve as the place where the Children […]

This week’s d’var Torah is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, who was assassinated 50 years ago today. Just as we recall our struggle for freedom 3,300 years ago, we should recall those who have struggled for freedom in modern times. Dear Scouts, I hope you had a wonderful time at your […]

This week, I write in gratitude for the birth of a baby girl to Tirza and Brian Block, born yesterday. This week’s d’var Torah is taken from a prior work by our frequent contributor, Jordan Block, of Yeshiva Ohr Sameach. Dear Scouts: On Friday night, we begin Passover (Pesach) with the first seder. Starting the […]

Dear Scouts, This week’s parsha, 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 […]

Dear Scouts,   This week, Parsha 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 […]

Dear Scouts: This week, we read two parshot, Vayakhel and Pekudei. In leap years of the Jewish calendar, we would read Pekudei next week. Vayakhel is the last of the three Torah portions where we learn about the constuction of the Mishkan – the Tabernacle – that was our place of worship during the Exodus […]

Greetings from Jerusalem, where we are celebrating Shushan Purim, and the birth of a baby boy to Jocelyn and Adam Block. Dear Scouts: In Parshat 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 […]

Dear Scouts, This week, Parsha Tetzaveh (command) is all about the Kohanim (Priests). In fact, this is the only portion of the Torah after Parsha Shemos that does not mention the name Moses, though it is clear God is giving him instructions. For example, God describes Aaron, who is to be High Priest, as “Aaron, […]

February is Inclusion Month for people with disabilities. This week, we honor those Scouts and leaders whose Cub packs, Scout troops, Venturing crews and Sea Scout ships welcome Scouts and Scouters whose abilities may differ from those of other people. Dear Scouts, This week, in Parshat Terumah, we study about the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that God […]

Happy 108th birthday, Boy Scouts of America! 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 translateAseret Hadivrot as the Ten Statements. So last week’s lesson was about God’s statements. […]

This week marks the beginning of the seventh year of Derech Tzofeh. To celebrate, we are honored to have a guest d’var Torah from Rabbi Josh Feigelson, the dean of students at The University of Chicago Divinity School. Rabbi Feigelson is an Eagle Scout and a former national chief of the Order of the Arrow. […]

This week marks the end of the sixth year of Derech Tzofeh.  To celebrate, we are re-posting a guest d’var Torah from Rabbi Justus Baird, who is the Dean of Auburn Seminary in New York, written for the completion of our second year.  Rabbi Baird is an Eagle Scout and a former Southern Region Chief […]

Dear Scouts, Last week, we learned of seven plagues that God imposed upon the Egyptians. This week, in parsha 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, […]

Dear Scouts, This week, the name of our parsha, 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 […]

Dear Scouts, This week, we start the book Shemot, with a parasha also called that. In English, Shemot is called Exodus, which is really a Greek word meaning “road out.” In Hebrew, Shemot means “names”. The parsha is called “Names” because it opens by reciting the names of Jacob’s sons; the sons are the heads […]

Dear Scouts: This week’s parsha, Vayechi, is taken up with the death of the last of the Patriarchs, Jacob, and his son, Joseph. Jacob is very old and knows that he will die soon. He asks Joseph to promise that Joseph will take Jacob back to Canaan to be buried. Before his death, Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons Ephraim […]

Dear Scouts, This week, in Parsha Vayigash, we come to the final act in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Last week Joseph, unknown to his brothers as the Viceroy of Egypt, told them they must bring the youngest, Benjamin, if they want to buy grain again. They brought Benjamin, and before leaving on […]

Dear Scouts, This week we read Parsha Mikeitz, one of the most dramatic stories in the Torah. Last week, we learned that Joseph’s 10 older brothers sold him into slavery, and that ultimately he ended up in Egypt. The end of last week’s parsha covers what happens to Joseph once he gets to Egypt. The […]

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 […]

Dear Scouts, This week, in Parsha Vayishlach, we read of Jacob’s continuing journey from his father-in-law’s home in Padan-aram to his own home in Canaan. Knowing that he will encounter Esau as he approaches home, and fearing that Esau still hates him because he “stole” his birthright and blessing, Jacob wants to Be Prepared. Because of […]

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 […]

As we celebrate Veteran’s Day, we should think of all those in uniform who protect our freedoms. Dear Scouts: This week’s parasha is Chayei Sarah – the life of Sarah, so called because it begins “Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, and twenty years, and seven years.” Rashi explains why this description of her age was […]

Today is the jahrzeit of my dear father-in-law, Milton Freedman, grandfather of five Eagle Scouts. He was well-known for his generosity and graciousness to family, friends and guests, so it is very appropriate that we study the lessons of kindness in this week’s parasha in his memory. Dear Scouts: In this week’s parasha, Vayeira, we […]

This week we study in the hope of relief for the people of the Caribbean and Florida from Hurricane Irma. 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 […]