by Cantor Sally L. Neff | Nov 8, 2024 | D'var Torah, Genesis
The final words of last week’s Torah portion tell us of the death of Avram’s father. It is in this moment of grief and mourning that our parshah this week begins with the words, “Vayomer Adonai el Avram: Lech L’cha.” God spoke to Avram and said “Lech l’cha.” Not...
by Cantor Sally L. Neff | May 14, 2024 | D'var Torah, Judaism, Leviticus
Don’t be a slut, but also don’t be a prude. Don’t be so emotional, but don’t be cold-hearted. Prioritize your family over your career, but you must be on call for the office 24/7. Cover up to avoid unwanted attention, but don’t dress so frumpy....
by Cantor Sally L. Neff | Mar 27, 2024 | Leviticus
A Torah scroll is written by a Sofer, or scribe. The scribe must follow a lot of rules that govern how a Torah is written, on what, with which ink, and with which tools. Torah scrolls must be meticulously copied and not written by memory to ensure that each is...
by Cantor Sally L. Neff | Mar 14, 2024 | Exodus
“For over the Tabernacle a cloud of G-d rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the view of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys.” Thus ends the book of Exodus, and our Torah portion, Parshat P’kudei. Cloud and fire are powerful symbols...
by Cantor Sally L. Neff | Mar 5, 2024 | D'var Torah, Exodus, Knitting
“G-d formed the human from the dust of the earth. Blowing into his nostrils the breath of life, the human became a living being.” (Gen 2:7). The soul, given by G-d, animates the human, which is nothing but dust until awakened with feeling and color, and something...