Category: Torah
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The Afikoman We Carry | Pesach Sermon by Rabbi Adrian M. Schell
In this Pesach sermon, Rabbi Adrian M. Schell reflects on a deeply personal and poignant Seder night in Berlin, where a table of rabbinical students, each carrying their own stories and silences, unknowingly held the broken pieces of our collective Jewish memory—and helped one another carry them. Using the powerful symbol of the Afikoman, Rabbi…
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The Holiness of Showing Up: A Shabbat Sermon on Nearness and Connection
In this special interfaith Shabbat sermon for Parashat Vayikra, Rabbi Adrian M. Schell reflects on the meaning of korban, often translated as “sacrifice”, and its deeper message of karov, nearness. What does it mean to truly draw close to one another, especially when it’s not easy? And how can small, quiet moments become sacred offerings…
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In the Shadow of Beauty
Shabbat Ki Tissa brings us face to face with a rare figure in our tradition—Bezalel, an artist whose name itself means “in the shadow of God.” Bezalel’s job was special: crafting the Tabernacle, creating beauty as an act of holiness. But wait: Judaism doesn’t exactly have a reputation for cherishing visual art, does it? Why…
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Ki Tavo: The First Fruits of Our Lives
A couple of years ago, a friend of ours planted a small garden on her balcony. It was nothing fancy—just a few herbs, a tomato plant, and some strawberries. But when that first tomato ripened, it was like magic. She held it up to the sun, marvelling at its bright red skin, and the weight…
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The last Shabbat of 5780
Chaverim Shalom, This Shabbat is a time of endings and new beginnings: It is the last Shabbat of 5780, opening the gateway to Rosh HaShanah We are bidding farewell to the past, and moving forward into something new. Like the ancient Israelites we are poised to enter what is metaphorically a new land; our new…
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Proud children of Zelphehad’s daughters
See it again, my sermon from last Shabbat on why Progressive/Reform Judaism is AUTHENTIC Judaism.
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Shavuot 2020 @ Bet David
Together with the learners of our Cheder, we will open the Shavuot Festival with a joyful Service Thursday evening at 18h30. Please join in and support our cheder learners. Prof. Steven Friedman opens our night of learning with a Shiur about the intention of the Torah: “What the Torah Was Really Meant to Do”. The…
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What in God’s Name is God’s Name?
This is one of the more profound theological questions. To be able to name something or someone is to have a specific relationship to it or them, even a form of control. One can call out not just “Hey, You!” but “Hey, David!” or whatever, and expect some form of response. By using a name…
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Shemot: A story, which can challenge our assumptions
At the beginning of 2011, while protests were happening in Egypt against the regime of Hosni Mubarak, a joke did the rounds, which claimed that the Jews had warned the Egyptians that they would refuse to rebuild the pyramids if they got destroyed by the violent protests which swept through the country. This joke may…
