Below are social justice themed Divrei Torah (Torah commentaries) written by JFSJ staff members, board members, and friends. We will continue to add to these weekly, so check back regularly for thoughts on the Torah portion of the week.
Genesis
B'reishit
"Genesis and the Conditions of Creation" by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Chayei Sarah
“Fulfilling a divine promise” by David Segal, Hebrew Union College student
Toldot
“Seeing and Not Seeing” by Rabbi Joanna Samuels, Congregation Habonim, New York City
Vayetze
“Labor’s Excuse: Labor Ethics and Community Standards” by Jeremy Burton, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
“Laban’s Excuse" by Jeremy Burton, Jewish Funds for Justice
“Encountering the Other” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Vayeshev
“Opposing Torture” by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Jewish Funds for Justice
Vay’chi
“Reading, Writing and Red Ink: Student Debt and Parashat Vayechi” by Rabbi Seth Goren, Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh
Exodus
Sh’mot
“Grassroots stories of the Exodus,” by Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfei Tzedek, Chester CT
“Abraham Joshua Heschel at 100: Still the Voice of God Today” by Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center
Vaera
“To Hear and to speak,” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Bo
Parshat Bo” by Jeremy Burton, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
“Telling one’s story: Bo and Congregation-based Community Organizing” by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Jewish Funds for Justice
Mishpatim
“Parshat Mishpatim” by Rabbi Lauren Thomas, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun
Ki Tissa
“From Purim to Pesach” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“Idols Abound: Contemporary Golden Calves” by Aaron Hahn Tapper, Abraham’s Vision
Vayakhel
“Parshat Vayakhel” by Jeremy Burton, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
Leviticus
Vayikra
“Sacrifice and communal responsibility” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.radicaltorah.org
Shemini
“Parshat Shemini” by Jeremy Burton, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
Tazria-Metzora
“The Human Condition” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“Unclean” by David Segal, Hebrew Union College student
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
“Turning joy into mourning” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
"Love your neighbor as yourself" by Margaret Frisch Klein, delivered at Congregation Shalom, Chelmsford, MA
“Disclaiming and Reclaiming: Gay Rights in Leviticus” by Cantor Ken Richmond, Temple Israel of Natick, MA
Emor
“Emor and the Omer” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Behalot’kha
“Reasons to Cry” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Behar-Behukotai
“Immigration and Entitlement” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“Economic Radicalism” by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Jewish Funds for Justice
Numbers
Bamidbar
“Place Matters” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Pinchas
“The Practice of Law” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Chukat-Balak
"Visions of Tents" by Rachel Goldenberg, /Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfei Tzedek, Chester CT
Deuteronomy
V’etchanan
“Inheritance Tax and the Idolatry of Wealth” by Jeffrey Dekro, Jewish Funds for Justice and Lawrence Bush, Jewish Currents (from www.socialaction.com)
Ekev
"Love the Stranger" by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Jewish Funds for Justice
"Ekev" by Jeremy Burton, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
Shoftim
"Justice, Justice, blah blah blah" by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Ki Tetze
“The Commandment for a Living Wage” by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
Holidays
Pesach
“The Courage of Nachshon” by Simon Greer, Jewish Funds for Justice from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
“Hametz, Matzah, and Liberation” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“Pesach & self-perception” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“I Was Redeemed From Egypt: Reenacting the Exodus in Every Generation” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice (from myjewishlearning.com)
“From Purim to Pesach” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“The singing of angels” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Lag B’omer
“So happy to be sad” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Shavuot
“An Immigration Lesson for Shavuot” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
“For the Land is mine” by Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg/Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfei Tzedek, Chester CT
Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur
“Leadership in a Leaderless World” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“Dignity after Katrina” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
“Loneliness and Encounter” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Sukkot
“The Rewards of Tzedakah” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
Chanukah
“Jews, Power, and Jewish Power” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
“Grassroots stories of the Exodus,” by Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfei Tzedek, Chester CT
“Abraham Joshua Heschel at 100: Still the Voice of God Today” by Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center
Purim
“Reconsidering Amalek” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.socialaction.com
“Confronting our Anger” by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Jewish Funds for Justice from www.radicaltorah.org
