Open Search form

Simchat Torah

Apply for a Blog

Sam Lehman-Wilzig

May 21, 2026, 10:37 AM

Should We Change the Torah Reading Cycle (Again)?

What does the holiday of Shavuot (Pentecost) symbolize? There’s no clear answer because its “meaning” has undergone change over time. The Israelites received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and we commemorate this on Shavuot based on counting the...

Apr 20, 2026, 3:08 PM

The Iran War & Artemis II: The Spiritual Dimension

With Earth setting in the background, humanity and the crew of Artemis II see portions of the far side of the Moon for the first time. (NASA, public domain)

The current war in Iran and the launch of Artemis II to the Moon have spiritual dimensions that are overlooked by world media, but which have profound significance that Hashem would not have us be ignorant of. That they...

Jan 15, 2026, 11:31 PM

The Power of Gratitude and Thankful Souls

Last night, I participated in a Thanksgiving dinner, which offered me a precious opportunity to reflect on one of the most profound spiritual practices in Judaism — expressing gratitude to God. In our tradition, gratitude is far more than...

Nov 27, 2025, 6:28 AM

The Movement Reclaiming Jewish Joy

At this year's Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, I expected to hear about policy, philanthropy, and the challenges facing our community. What I didn’t expect was to witness a quiet spiritual revolution — one that has already...

Nov 13, 2025, 1:27 PM

Are We Abraham’s Children?

What does a person who has everything want? This week’s parashah is transitional. Its two major stories involve the passing of the mantle from one generation to another. Sarah dies, and Avraham buys land for her burial. As he ages,...

Moshe-Mordechai van Zuiden

Nov 8, 2025, 6:35 PM

From now on, for everyone, Jewish tragedies must be commemorated on one day each

One People, one Land, one G^d, one calendar I don't think it is a good idea that secular and religious Israelis commemorate tragedies that they endured together on separate days. Secular and religious Jews should adopt each other fast. Unity is...

Elisha M. Prero

Oct 21, 2025, 9:47 AM

We Knew Their Mothers’ Names

TheWayJewsRock.com

Like much of the Jewish world, our family sat glued to our screens in Chicago on the night of Hoshana Rabbah, holding our breath and hoping against hope that the remaining living hostages would be released. As the excitement...

Harel Ben-Michael

Oct 19, 2025, 6:03 AM

When Victory Is Subjective: Reflections on the Post-Agreement Reality

This week, we could finally breathe a little easier. Finally, A circle has been closed, with a deal that saved the lives of the remaining live hostages and marked the beginning of the end of the war—and of what’s being...

Oct 17, 2025, 6:38 PM

An Apology to Simchat Torah

I feel like I need to issue an apology to Simchat Torah. After three chagim filled with lots of shul, setting tables, and cooking it makes sense that a lot of Jews feel burnt out by the time Simchat...

Oct 16, 2025, 5:53 PM

In Adam’s fall, we sinned all. In the new Adam’s rise, we shall all reach the skies. — Henry David Thoreau The First Fall Perhaps no story in the Bible is more familiar—or more haunting—than the tale of Adam and Eve. For many Christian...

Load more