Daniel M. Kimmel
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Re'eh
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags:
Far be it from me to disagree with the philosophers and historians who cite “ethical monotheism” as Judaism’s great contribution to mankind, but having taken that as a given, it seems to me that it is “free will” that is the Torah’s amazing insight into the human condition. Parshah Re’eh opens...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Ekev
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Ekev, Ekev
"Love, therefore, the Lord your God, and always keep His charge, His laws, His rules, and His commandments." (Deut. 11:1) This passage from Parshah Ekev is not unique. It is one of many places we are told to "love" God. But what does that mean? Rabbi Jakob Petuchowski wrote, "Jews study Torah...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Va-Ethanan
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Va'etchanan
"Hear, O Israel, the laws and rules that I proclaim to you this day," says Moses in Parshah Va-Ethannan. "Study them and observe them faithfully." (Deut 5:1) Moses is reiterating God's laws in one of his farewell addresses, but notice that study is part of the command. Of course study is to lead...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) -- Devarim
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Devarim
“These are the words that Moses addressed to all Israel…” begins the first Parshah of Devarim, the final book of the Torah. Devarim consists almost entirely of the words of Moses in a series of farewell addresses. Oddly, this is the man who once tried to turn down the job on the grounds that he...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) -- Mas'ei
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Mas'ei
You sometimes hear about how vengeful and violent the God of the "Old Testament" is, usually from people examining our text from a non-Jewish perspective. Consider this passage from Parshah Mas'ei, with instructions on the coming claiming of the Promised Land: "You shall dispossess all the...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Mattot
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Matot
"If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips." (Num. 30:3) How ironic to read this verse in Parshah Mattot as we enter the final months of the seemingly endless presidential...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Pinchas
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Pinchas
In Parshah Pinchas we find that doing things on time is important. “Command the Israelite people and say to them: Be punctilious in presenting to Me at stated times the offerings of food due Me, as gifts of pleasing odor to Me.” (Num. 28:2) Of course after the destruction of the Temples such...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Balak
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Balak
No matter how familiar the story in the Torah, there's always something new to learn. Consider this week's Parshah Balak, famous for the story of Balaam and the talking ass. Balaam is the pagan prophet hired to curse the Israelites by Balak, king of Moab, but who - in the end - can only say what...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Hukkat
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Chukat
Parshah Hukkat has one of the most troubling stories in the Torah. Moses loses his temper with the Israelites and strikes a rock to get water, instead of acknowledging God's intervention. As a result, God tells Moses, "Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the...
My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Korach
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Korach, Korach
The Israelites are out of control in Parshah Korah, but what’s interesting is how Moses and Aaron respond. It all comes to a head after Korah and his followers fail in their rebellion while the other Israelites have become enraged. “Next day the whole Israelite community railed against Moses and...
