March 13, 2024
Parshat Pekudei 5784
Restoring Structure and Happiness By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin In what way is reading about the Mishkan’s inventory and construction relevant to us today? How do we gain any kind of education or inspiration from the
March 5, 2024
Parshat Shekalim (Vayakhel) 5784
Moderation and the Half-Shekel By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin We have gone through a national tragedy, but the war seems to be abating. Should we be optimistic about the future, or have we gone from the
February 27, 2024
Parshat Ki Tisa 5784
One Chosen People is Enough By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Imagine an alternate universe where instead of there being one Chosen People, one nation who received the Torah in the Middle East 3300 years ago, there
February 22, 2024
Parshat Tetzaveh 5784
The Spice of Life Makes Life Worth Living By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin The Torah ends our parsha with the commandment to make the golden Mizbach Ketoret, the Incense Altar. Many commentaries ask why this utensil’s
February 13, 2024
Parshat Terumah 5784
“Mishkan” vs. “Mikdash” By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin What is the correct Hebrew name for the Tabernacle that God commanded the Jews to construct in the desert? That’s easy: It’s called the “Mishkan.” However, the very
February 7, 2024
Parshat Mishpatim 5784
Community vs. Individual By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Many commentaries ask why the Mishpatim, the civil laws presented in our parsha, come immediately after the giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Some observe that the
January 30, 2024
Parshat Yitro 5784
Running Away and Running Towards By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin One of the most important theological divides among Jewish thinkers hinges on the answer to the following question: When God first introduced Himself to the Jewish
January 22, 2024
Parshat Beshalach 5784
Glory Days and Boring Days By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Think I’m going down to the well tonight, And I’m going to drink ’til I get my fill. And I hope when I get old I
January 15, 2024
Parshat Bo 5784
Rubbernecking Others’ Tragedies By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Have you ever been caught in freeway traffic, only to later discover that it was due to an auto accident down the road, and that all the drivers
January 10, 2024
Parshat VaEra 5784
“Chosenness” Revisited By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin The chosennes of the Jewish people has gotten us into trouble over the centuries. Both we and the rest of the world have misused and distorted the moniker, “Chosen
January 2, 2024
Parshat Shemot 5784
We All Ask, “Who Am I?” By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Parents often ask their children, “What do you want to be when you group up?” They sometimes get the typical answer: nurse, doctor, fire fighter,
December 27, 2023
Parshat Vayechi 2023
Fathers and Sons By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin In preparing his sons for his final words of wisdom and blessings, Yaakov summoned his sons. It’s quite curious that Yaakov presented a long monologue in inviting his
December 19, 2023
Parshat Vayigash 2023
The Economics of Living Jewishly By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin By the time Yoseph had settled his family, the years of famine intensified in Egypt. Yoseph devised a system that would enable Egyptian society to pull
December 12, 2023
Parshat Miketz 2023
Envisioning Peace in the World By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Before the war against Hamas, the Arab states were expressing more and more kinship with Israel. We anticipate that once the war ends, one of the
December 5, 2023
Parshat Vayeshev & Chanukah 2023
We Cannot Abandon Our Brother to the Pit By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Can you imagine if the Chanukah story were to take place today? Would the Hasmoneans be called heroes or terrorists? Would they be
November 28, 2023
Parshat Vayishlach 2023
Struggling with Our Free Will By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Does man truly possess free will? Or, are we, as many social scientists suggest today, a product of a series of events that have occurred in
November 20, 2023
Parshat Vayetzei 2023
Watch Your Aura By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin We left last week’s parsha with the very dramatic episode of Yaakov usurping the blessings that were originally meant for Esav. Understandably, Esav was quite upset about this,
November 13, 2023
Parshat Toldot 2023
Venturing Out Into a Dangerous and Deceptive World By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin The difference in personalities and outlooks between the father, Avraham, and the son, Yitzchak is quite stark and apparent in their respective narratives.
November 7, 2023
Parshat Chayei Sarah 2023
Dawning of the Age of Rivkah By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin When dealing in the world of shidduchim, one must dwell on every word and gesture. Sometimes, the smallest negative comment, even a non-verbal facial expression,
October 31, 2023
Parshat Vayera 2023
Selecting the Good out of the Bad By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin When Hashem informed Avraham that he was going to bring great retribution upon the people of Sodom, Avraham understood that this was his cue