Eliezer Lawrence, at The Blogs

Eliezer Lawrence

Rabbi, Judeo-Linguist, Educator and Mohel

Feb 24, 2023, 10:42 AM

In this week’s parasha, Rashi makes a comment explaining the function of what seems to be a superfluous “vav” before the word “et” in 25:22. This comment would be in line with many of his other comments, if not...

Feb 17, 2023, 1:16 AM

Treat the Problem, Not the Symptom!

Parents yelling at their child (Image generated by DALL-E 2)

There is a universal wisdom that children are supposed to respect their parents, so it is not surprising that we are introduced to the mitzvah of kibbud av va’eim—honoring one’s parents—in the “10 commandments” of last week's parsha. This...

Feb 10, 2023, 5:44 PM

What’s in a name?

The Mechilta teaches that Yitro, Moshe’s father in law, had seven names: Yeter, Yitro, Chovav, Reuel, Chever, Putiel, and Keni, each corresponding to an aspect of Yitro’s entirety. Yeter, because he was always adding good deeds. Chovav and Reuel,...

Feb 3, 2023, 2:54 PM

The bones we carry

I walk through the world with the bones of my ancestors. I carry in my bones the stories—the life, the love, the death, the values of those who came before—so many of whom I never met. When we have a...

Nov 6, 2020, 2:18 PM

The Hebrew Vowels Help Us See God in Others

When I began to teach my 11th grade Honors Tanakh students the practical difference between the Hebrew vowels kָamָatz and pַatַach, I never thought I would be laying the groundwork for something far more profound than the lofty goal...

Aug 4, 2017, 10:30 PM

Raising the Flag of Empathy

“I’m sorry, but I have no rachmonus (sympathy) for the Palestinians,” said an unassuming colleague of mine on a recent mission to the Holy Land, as we sat in Rawabi overlooking the majestic Palestinians flags waving proudly, perhaps so...

Jan 29, 2017, 12:11 PM

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It’s a strange time to be a Jew…but don’t stop

Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York City, January 28, 2017. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images/AFP)

He's been knocked for his religiosity, for being liberal, and for being Jewish, but he won't give up on his ideals

Oct 9, 2016, 11:43 PM

Melodies and Moments: Shabbat as Conscious Living

In the rush leading up to this past Shabbat evening, I was late to synagogue and decided to pray on my own at home before my dinner guests arrived. As I hurried through the psalms of kabbalat shabbat, I suddenly...

About Me

Rabbi Eliezer Lawrence is a passionate Jewish educator and certified Mohel who uses his various platforms to enrich identity and instill meaning to Jewish texts, language and ritual. An alumnus of Columbia University and the Kollel of Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa, Rabbi Lawrence holds MAs in Bible and Semitic Languages and in Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language. He has taught Gemara, Tankah, Yiddish and Hebrew in both Jewish day school and adult educational settings and has written about language and Jewish identity for various publications. Alongside his community work as a Mohel, he currently serves on the faculty of the Hebrew department at Yeshiva University.