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Oct 28, 2024, 10:55 PM

Why Our Silent Hakafah Failed

Prior to Simchat Torah there was some discussion about how our shul would acknowledge October 7, 2023, which had fallen on Simchat Torah. We concocted an elaborate plan. We would commemorate the loss on Shemini Atzeret during Yizkor. We would then dance our first hakafah...

Mar 25, 2024, 6:27 PM

Purim: A Lesson in Learning to Let Go

There are many lessons that we can take away from Purim. But the one that I’ve always been partial to is the importance of learning to “let go.” We all have that one thing. A painful memory. A person who treated us badly. Days,...

Nov 3, 2023, 11:10 PM

Some Doxing Could Be A Good Thing

I hope that one of you can help me. I am honestly having trouble figuring out why the idea of “doxing” is such a terrible thing. As I understand it, the idea of doxing is when we as a society call out people who anonymously...

Oct 1, 2021, 7:38 AM

Why I Don’t Wear Tefillin on Chol HaMoed

My Zaidy called me the other day and asked me: “Daniel, do we wear tefillin on Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days of Sukkot and Passover)?” I had to laugh. My grandfather is in his early 90s and has put on tefillin nearly every day of...

May 14, 2021, 5:34 AM

Our synagogue does not want your old books

(Adam Jones/Creative Commons)

We have plenty, and that is the case for just about all synagogues. But this Shavuot, I do have a suggestion for who should receive your books

Apr 20, 2021, 5:30 PM

Eating God’s birthday cake

This morning, I asked my three-year-old daughter what Jewish things she was learning in preschool. She told me that she liked eating birthday cake. “Birthday cake?” I said. Seeing my confused look, she went on to explain: “Yes. Last week we ate birthday cake to...

Dec 11, 2020, 6:52 PM

“No Jesus? If not, what else are you following?”

A friend of my son participates in a local church basketball league. As part of their ministry, after practice one day he was handed a card with what was labeled as an action step. The card read: “Are you following Jesus? If not, who or...

Jul 30, 2020, 12:53 AM

Help! Making Meaning from My Zoom Shabbat Service

When I was in tenth grade I was a solid B math student: until one day I had a teacher who thought that I could do better. After I failed the first test of the semester we sat down. Within five minutes she had identified...

Jan 9, 2020, 9:33 PM

Where’s Waldo? He’s Studying the Talmud

There’s a funny picture making its way around social media from the Siyyum HaShas that took place at MetLife Stadium. Last week, 90,000 Jews gathered to celebrate the completion of Daf Yomi, the 7.5 year cycle of reading the entire Talmud. From an aerial view,...

Jun 13, 2019, 9:39 PM

Rejoicing at Our Enemy’s Downfall in an NBA Final

As Jews, we historically rejoice at the downfall of our enemies. We boo Haman on Purim. The very prayer our rabbis tell us in the Talmud to recite twice daily, Az Yashir, the Song of the Sea, taunts the supposed might of the fallen Egyptians...

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About Me

Daniel Dorsch is the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He enjoys studying Daf Yomi, barbecuing in the winter, and spending time with his family.