Divrei Torah

Reconstructionist Torah Commentary

Below you can find divrei Torah (Torah commentaries) from a Reconstructionist approach.

You can skip to the beginning of a section of the Torah via the shortcut links below.

Also, visit our Weekly Learning page for a variety of materials connected to this week’s Torah reading.

Genesis

Bereyshit | Genesis 1:1-6:8
Kaplan on Creation: An Explanation of Jewish Mission	Mel Scult
Shabbat and Holiness	Steven Nathan

No'akh | Genesis 6:9-11:32
Symbolism of Rainbows	Howard Cohen

Lekh-Lekha | Genesis 12:1-17:27
Avraham, Happiness, and God's Open Hand	Ellen Dannin
Be a Blessing	Steven Nathan
Go to Yourself: Abraham and the Spiritual Journey	Jonathan Kligler

Vayera | Genesis 18:1-22:24
The Destruction of the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah	Steven Nathan
The Akeida: Questions of Sacrifice	Sydney Nestel
Welcoming Strangers, Welcoming Angels	Hannah Spiro

Hayey Sarah | Genesis 23:1-25:18
Filling in the Missing Pieces of Sarah's Life	Elizabeth Bolton
Abraham's Second Life	Lewis Eron
Quality or Quantity?	Micah Becker-Klein

Toldot | Genesis 25:19-29:9
Questioning Jacob's and Rebecca's Behavior	Shai Gluskin
Isaac, Digger of Wells	Ellen Dannin

Vayetzey | Genesis 28:10-32:3
A Seasonal Hint: Jacob Didn't Ask for That Much Stuff!	Arlene Berger
Meeting Angels	Lewis Eron

Vayishlakh | Genesis 32:4-36:43
Wrestling With...	Steven Nathan
My Brother's Keeper	Lewis Eron
Connecting the Dots	Ellen Dannin

Vayeshev | Genesis 37:1-40:23
Tamar and Judah	Ellen Dannin
Tamar the Hidden	Ellen Dannin

Miketz | Genesis 41:1-44:17
The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of	Steven Carr Reuben
Love Trumps Power	Jeremy Schwartz
Joseph, The Favorite Son	Elizabeth Bolton

Vayigash | Genesis 44:18-47:27
If I Had Only Known - Parashat Vayigash	Steven Carr Reuben
Prophets and Sages	Lewis Eron

Vay'khi | Genesis 47:28-50:26
The Danger of Religious Fanaticism	James Greene
Courage and Forgiveness	Steven Carr Reuben
Have You No Decency? Midrash and the Centrality of Love	Mackenzie Reynolds
The Goal of Life	Lewis Eron

Exodus

Shemot | Exodus 1:1-6:1
Trapped In Our Own Lies	Lewis Eron
These Are The Names	Micah Becker-Klein

Va'era | Exodus 6:2-9:35
Naming the Divine	Steven Carr Reuben
Moses' Double Mission	Lewis Eron
A Plague of Darkness	Michael Strassfeld

Bo | Exodus 10:1-13:16
Responsibility and the Hardened Heart	Steven Carr Reuben
What Is True In This Moment	Jacob Staub
A Plague of Darkness	Michael Strassfeld
The Rituals of Democracy	Yael Ridberg

Beshalakh | Exodus 13:17-17:16
Wade In The Water	Jonathan Kligler
Evil and Compassion: Two Sides of One Staff	Joel Hecker
Jewish Continuity and the origins of "Ben Hur"	Eric Mendelsohn
Crossing the Sea in Every Generation	Seth Rosen
The Singing of the Oppressed	Steven Nathan

Yitro | Exodus 18:1-20:26
"Hearing" The "Voice" of God	Howard Cohen
Sinai and Humanity	Steven Carr Reuben

Mishpatim | Exodus 21:1-24:18
Turning Memory into Empathy: The Torah’s Ethical Charge	Shai Held
Filling the Earth with God's Presence	Ellen Dannin

Terumah | Exodus 25:1-27:19
Amalek: Out There, or In Here? A Text Study for Shabbat Zakhor	Michael Fessler
Do You Want To Be A Millionaire?	Lewis Eron
Wherever We Let God In	Steven Carr Reuben
Blueprint for a Full Jewish Life	Jeffrey Schein

Tetzaveh | Exodus 27:20-30:10
On Holding High Jewish Office: Do Clothes Make the Man?	Jeffrey Schein
Why Moses Did Not Become A Priest	Steven Nathan
The Dress of the High Priest	Ellen Dannin
A D'var Torah for Tetzaveh	Eric Mendelsohn
Righting a World Turned Upside Down	Yael Ridberg

Ki Tisa | Exodus 30:11-34:35
A Pilgrimage and a Reckoning	Mark Pinsky
The Torah as Puzzle: Rearranging the Parts	Jeffrey Schein
Why Be Good?	Ellen Dannin
Trying to Limit the Divine	Lewis Eron

Vayak'hel | Exodus 35:1-38:20
The Importance of Vision	Jeffrey Schein
Journeying from the Personal to the Communal	James Greene
Coming Together	Steven Carr Reuben

Pekudey | Exodus 38:21-40:38
The Importance of Vision	Jeffrey Schein
Journeying from the Personal to the Communal	James Greene
Coming Together	Steven Carr Reuben

Leviticus

Vayikra | Leviticus 1:1-5:26
The Spiritual Tools of Leviticus	Steven Carr Reuben
Drawing Close to Sacrifice	Ellen Dannin
Where Does the Spirit of Sacrifice Take Us?	Jeffrey Schein
What Is True In This Moment	Jacob Staub

Tzav | Leviticus 6:1-8:36
The Ascending Heart	Jeffrey Schein
The Eternal Flame Within Us All	Arlene Berger
Tzav: The Haftarah as Commentary	Jonathan Kligler
What Is True In This Moment	Jacob Staub

Shemini | Leviticus 9:1-11:47
Strange Fire: A Midrash	Steven Nathan

Tazri'a | Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Illness and Connection	Steven Carr Reuben
The Gift of Impermanence: A Story for Parashat Tazria/Metzora	David Stein
Tzara'at and Selfishness	Howard Cohen
Finding Healing in Separation	Steven Nathan
Birth of Humility	Steven Carr Reuben

Metzora | Leviticus 14:1-15:33
The Gift of Impermanence: A Story for Parashat Tazria/Metzora	David Stein
Tzara'at and Selfishness	Howard Cohen
Finding Healing in Separation	Steven Nathan
Illness and Connection	Steven Carr Reuben

Akharey Mot | Leviticus 16:1-18:30
Life, Death and Holiness	Steven Carr Reuben
Blood	Ellen Dannin
The Mighty Waters of Justice & Love	Yael Ridberg

Kedoshim | Leviticus 19:1-20:27
Life, Death and Holiness	Steven Carr Reuben
Love the Stranger as Yourself	Jonathan Kligler
The Mighty Waters of Justice & Love	Yael Ridberg

Emor | Leviticus 21:1-24:23
An Eye For An Eye?	Jonathan Kligler
It's Not Fair!	Steven Carr Reuben

Behar | Leviticus 25:1-26:2
Blessings and Curses	Lewis Eron
Land	Richard Hirsh

Bekhukotay | Leviticus 26:3-27:34
Land	Richard Hirsh
Blessings and Curses	Lewis Eron

Numbers

Bamidbar | Numbers 1:1-4:20
Covenant as Marriage	Howard Cohen
Nachshon: Did He Jump Or Was He Pushed?	Steven Nathan
Everyone Counts	Jonathan Kligler

Naso | Numbers 4:21-7:89
The True Honor	Lewis Eron
The Nazirite	Richard Hirsh
From Impurity to Blessing	Toba Spitzer

Beha'alotekha | Numbers 8:1-12:16
Just A Little Prayer Will Do	Lewis Eron
Be Careful What You Wish For	David Stein
Are We There Yet?	Jonathan Kligler

Shelakh | Numbers 13:1-15:41
Healing the Crushed Spirit	Jonathan Kligler
Putting Aside Fear for Courage	Steven Carr Reuben
The Reminder of Tzitzit	Steven Nathan

Korakh | Numbers 16:1-18:32
Leadership	Steven Nathan
Who Has The Authority To Change Judaism?	Richard Hirsh
Why Did Korah Rebel?	Elizabeth Bolton
Who Was Korakh?	Lewis Eron

Hukat | Numbers 19:1-22:1
The Well of Tradition and Miriam's Well	Lewis Eron
Reacting to Loss	Arlene Berger
On Being A Paradox Jew	Michael Cohen

Balak | Numbers 22:2-25:9
Balaam Recognizes the One God	Richard Hirsh
How Good It Is	Jonathan Kligler

Pinkhas | Numbers 25:10-30:1
The Next Generation	David Steinberg
Equal Before God	Steven Nathan
Transitioning Leadership	Richard Hirsh
Silence as Protest	Howard Cohen

Matot | Numbers 30:2-32:42
The Importance of Re-reading Torah	Richard Hirsh
The Inner Journey	Jonathan Kligler
Making the Epic Personal	Lewis Eron

Mas'ey | Numbers 33:1-36:13
The Inner Journey	Jonathan Kligler
Making the Epic Personal	Lewis Eron
The Importance of Re-reading Torah	Richard Hirsh

Deuteronomy

Devarim | Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
Shabbat Hazon	Richard Hirsh
Retelling Our Story	Steven Carr Reuben
Finding Your Voice	Jonathan Kligler

Va'et'khanan | Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
The Ten Commandments	David Stern
It Reached No Further	Howard Cohen
Our Sustaining Hope	Lewis Eron
Shabbat Naḥamu	Richard Hirsh

Ekev | Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25
Living the Good Life	Ellen Dannin
By Bread Alone?	Steven Carr Reuben

Re'eh | Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
Open Your Hand	Jonathan Kligler
Be Happy!	Eric Mendelsohn

Shoftim | Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Melekh Ha-Olam, Sovereign of All	Lewis Eron
Justice, Justice	Jonathan Kligler

Ki Tetzey | Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
Out of Sight, But Not Out Of Mind	Steven Carr Reuben
It Just Isn't So!	Lewis Eron
Honest Weights and Measures	Lewis Eron
Ownership and Return	Steven Nathan
Amalek and Memory in Pittsburgh: Evil Must Not Define Us	Seth Rosen

Ki Tavo | Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
Consequences	Elizabeth Bolton
First Fruits	Steven Nathan
Serving God in Gladness	Lewis Eron
The Inner Witness	Jonathan Kligler

Nitzavim | Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20
Standing Together This Day	Steven Nathan
Standing Together in Covenant	Howard Cohen
Choose Life!	Jonathan Kligler

Vayelekh | Deuteronomy 31:1-30
Standing Together This Day	Steven Nathan
You Should Live To Be 120	Lewis Eron
Standing Together in Covenant	Howard Cohen
Choose Life!	Jonathan Kligler

Ha'azinu | Deuteronomy 32:1-52
When Will We Ever Learn?	Mira Beth Wasserman

Holidays

Rosh HaShanah | Genesis 21:1 – 22:24
Our Akeidah, Our Binding	Ellen Dannin
The Akeida: Questions of Sacrifice	Sydney Nestel

Yom Kippur | Leviticus 16:1-34; 18: 1-30
Future Prayer	Ellen Dannin
Eleh Ezakara - Sacrifice and Martyrdom	Lewis Eron

Sukkot | Leviticus 22:26-23:44
Sukkot: Yom Kippur's Counterbalance	Michael Cohen

Shemini Atzeret / Simkhat Torah | Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12
Moses Died With A Promised Land	Ellen Dannin
Taking Down the Sukkah	Lewis Eron

Hanukkah | Numbers 7:1-8:4
Love Trumps Power	Jeremy Schwartz

Purim | Esther (Entire book)
Four Lessons We Learn From Purim	Elliott Tepperman
Righting a World Turned Upside Down	Yael Ridberg
Purim: The Danger of a Single Story	Elyse Wechterman
Amalek: Out There, or In Here? A Text Study for Shabbat Zakhor	Michael Fessler

Pesakh | Exodus 12:21-12:51
Responsibility and the Hardened Heart	Steven Carr Reuben
Allegorical Interpretation of the Song of Songs	Leah Richman
On Shabbat HaGadol	Howard Cohen
What Is True In This Moment	Jacob Staub
A Plague of Darkness	Michael Strassfeld

Shavuot | Exodus 19:1-20:23
Covenant as Marriage	Howard Cohen
Revelation as a Gift	Steven Carr Reuben

Tisha b'Av | Lamentations (Entire book)
Shabbat Hazon	Richard Hirsh
Our Sustaining Hope	Lewis Eron
Shabbat Naḥamu	Richard Hirsh
The Modern Meaning of Tisha b'Av	Lewis Eron

Divrei Torah

Divrei Torah

Join the conversation

The Reconstructionist Network

Read & Rite

Havaya Summer Programs

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Placement Office

Reconstructionist Educators of North America

The Reconstructionist Network

Read & Rite

Placement Office

Havaya Summer Programs

Reconstructionist Educators of North America

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Divrei Torah

Divrei Torah

You are here

The Reconstructionist Network

The Reconstructionist Network