To Tova Ross~ Someone sent me a link to your article along with the following message: “Check out this article. Obviously a lot of her arguments are flawed but an interesting read…”
Author: DRosenbach
Passaic Periodontist
My Unique Shabbos Experience in Brooklyn
In case anyone hasn’t seen or heard about it, a photo of what appears to be a young black man resting his head on the shoulder of Issac Theil, an Orthodox Jew, on a NYC subway train has been featured…
Dvar Torah Lech Lecha 2013: Renouncing Nonsense
In general, the Orthodox approach has been to accept Rashi’s commentary as though it was from Sinai along with the text of the Torah. It’s unfortunate, then, when Rashi’s approach takes a very dated approach to things.
Dvar Torah Noach: Rashi Choosing Sides
Last year, a few divrei Torah focused on how we might view the entity known as “midrash.” Summarizing the approach taken by Maimonides, I explained that midrash is to be taken seriously, but not literally. Midrashim might appear as silly…
Rebooting DRosenbach
It’s certainly been a while, but I think it’s time to revisit our weekly travels together through the Torah. Before we begin, I’d like to re-examine my purpose here.
Facebook Doesn’t Have “Shidduch Requests” for a Reason
Passover 2013: Will the Real Maror Please Stand Up
Check out this intriguing article. Chag Kasher v’Sameach! ~DRosenbach
Dvar Torah Vayechi: The Reverse
Jacob gives some blessing to Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Menashe, and crosses his arms
Chanukah 2012: The Survival of the Celebration
Guest post by R’ Evan Hoffman The holiday of Chanukah is celebrated annually to commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem which took place in December 164 BCE.
Good Shabbos to All!
I’ll be back next week with some words of Torah — until then, have a great holiday weekend and a wonderful Shabbos! ~DRosenbach
Dvar Torah Vayeira: Secular Charity
Guest post by R’ Evan Hoffman Abraham’s self-imposed mission was to spread the Name of God far and wide.
Rape, Hashgocha Pratis and the GOP
As most people don’t really look things up, the notion of a “separation of church and state” in the US is not only poorly defined but also poorly understood.
Dvar Torah Beraishis: My Daughter
I did it.
Simchas Torah 2012: You Don’t Have to be Einstein…
Depending on how many people regularly attend your synagogue, you may be called to the Torah once a month, once a year or somewhere in between. This is in addition to Simchas Torah, when an aliyah is given to all…
Yom Kippur 2012: Maintaining Focus
We begin the prayer services for Yom Kippur with one of the strangest announcements:
Rosh Hashana 2012: “Olam HaHafuch”
In Judaism, names are seen as very significant. This is the reason why things are often given multiple names: each name represents a distinct yet complementary aspect of the entity.
Elul: 50 Shades of Black
I know you, you’re that new guy in shul, praying slowly and intently line by line. But I will give you no respect, ’cause your hat’s just not as black as mine.
Dvar Torah Ki Seitzei: Hanging Out with God
This week’s parsha opens with perhaps the most famous trifecta of storylines — the captive woman, the two wives and the wayward son (Deuteronomy 21:10) — that, according to the teachings of the Akivan school of thought, tie into one…
Dvar Torah Va’eschanan: 1312 vs. 2012
According to my calculations, it’s been 3324 years or so since we received the Torah at Sinai, and well, it’s really no wonder that many people are about fed up with it. I mean, is there anything else, at all,…
Tisha B’Av 2012: Exclusivity
Because Torah is meant to engender a sense of profound joy and utter fulfillment in our lives, our sages prohibited the study of Torah on Tisha B’Av, based on the verse in Psalms: “pekudei Hashem yesharim m’samchei lev,” — “the…
Matos-Masei: VACATION
I’m still in Boston on vacation and will return to regularly scheduled programming for Devarim. A good Shabbos to all! ~DRosenbach
Dvar Torah Pinchas: Fasting for the Korban Tamid
Guest Post by Rabbi Evan Hoffman During the Babylonian captivity (586-515 BCE), Jewish exiles commemorated the destruction of the Holy Temple and the First Commonwealth with a series of four fasts. We cannot be certain what particular aspect of Judah’s…
Dvar Torah Balak: Whose Prophecies can a Prophet Prophesy?
We speak frequently about the Akivan/Ishmaelian divide, a large segment of which deals with the dispute over how Israel received the Torah — either as a comprehensive, all-inclusive text at Sinai or as distinct and incomplete sections of what we…
Dvar Torah Chukas: Unrevealed Revelation
Someone approached me to tell me how nice of a piece I had written about this week’s parsha, and I responded that I hadn’t written anything yet! But when they told me that they had thoroughly enjoyed my tie in…
Dvar Torah Shlach: An Akivan Sinaitic Paradox
I can think of a number of examples from the film industry of future telling, and they usually share something in common: events of the future are foretold insofar as they might likely unfold considering the present state of affairs.