Torah commentary

Here you’ll find Rabbi David’s divrei Torah, organized by parsha / Torah portion.

BERESHIT / GENESIS

Bereshit

2016: False Starts and the Art of Renewal
2017: Resilience: Cain after Abel
2018: First Build: Seven Foundation Principles for Spiritual Builders
2018: Genesis (En)Gendered
2023: Creation and Our Sacred Orchard
2025: The Courage to Buck the Patriarchy

Noach

Lech Lecha

2016: The Day After
2023: Lekhi Lakh: Wresting a Blessing, Becoming a Blessing
2024: Where Are We Going?
2025: Trust and Verify

Vayera

2023: On Spirituality and Judgment Amidst Trauma
2025: Sick Visits

Chayei Sarah

2019: Parking lot angels, intercessory prayer, and being real
2023: Are You Talking to Me?
2025: The Pause That Refreshes

Toldot

2016: The Cosmic “Why Me?”
2017: Nevertheless, She Persisted
2023: When “Because” Doesn’t Answer “Why”
2024: The Flags Up Front
2025: Rational Spirituality Beyond Belief

Vayetze

2016: Every Rock : the Art of Awe
2023: Thanksgiving and the First Stone of Blessing
2024: Wherever You Put Your Head

Vayeshev

2018: Keeping the Mind in Mind: the Essence of Pluralism
2023: Mind Your Matters
2024: Pointers Along the Way

Vayishlach

2017: Israel’s Six Resilience Rules
2017: Matt, Mom and Me
2023: Becoming “Israel,” Again and Again
2024: On Mideast Peace: Is ‘Yes’ Possible?
2025: Hearing the Unheard

Miketz

2016: Becoming the Light
2018: Power Tools for Spiritual Building
2023: Power Tools Redux
2024: Be A Light

Vayigash

2023: The Meaning of Life
2024: Showing Up, Taking Responsibility

Vayechi

SHEMOT / EXODUS

Shemot

2016: Everything Old is New Again
2015: Moses the Rookie Chaplain and the Burning Bush
2024: The Cry Heard ‘Round the World
2025: The Name of Becoming

2024: Our Single Garment of Destiny
2025: Come to Narcissist

Vaera

2023: Our Cup Undrunk For Now (first published at Bayit, with R. Rachel Barenblat)
2024: A Dream, Partly Fulfilled
2025: The Moral Arc Discovered

Beshalach

2016: What Have You Done For Me Lately?
2024: Freedom! Now, What Have You Done For Me Lately?
2025: The Impossible Song of Our People

Yitro

2018: Take my advice
2019: Seeing the Voices: the Call of Teaching in Spiritual Formation
2024: Coming Out to God
2025: The Eleventh Commandment

Mishpatim

2018: The Sapphire Path
2024: Learning As We Go
2025: Wise Restraints and Sapphire Skyways

Terumah

2016: A Space for Spirit
2015: Denominational Ins and Outs: the New Mishkan
2017: Jewish Renewal, our Judaism, and parashat Terumah
2019: Building for Mobility: Spiritual Life on the Move
2020: What Torah Doesn’t Say
2025: Giving, Up

Tetzaveh

2016: Seeing Bigger
2025: Lights On

Ki Tisa

2024: All That Glitters Isn’t God
2025: Unbend the Knee

Vayekhel

Pekudei

2024: An Anatomy of Spiritual Service
2024: For All to See (Not Just the Professional Jew)
2025: The Sense, and Senses, of Making Holy

VAYIKRA / LEVITICUS

Vayikra

Tzav

2016: Keeping the Fire Burning
2016: Keeping the Light On
2017: Your Holy Uplift
2019: Holy Ashes: Designing for Spiritual Flow

Shemini

2015: The Sounds of Silence
2020: “Silent” Tribute to the Dead of Covid-19
2024: The Strangest Fire

Tazria / Tazria-Metzora

2016: Going Free in the Light
2017: What’s Pure?

Acharei Mot-Kedoshim

2017: Shabbat, renewal, and you
2024: Words to Live By

Emor

2016: Blemishes, One and All
2024: The So-Called Blemished Among Us

Behar

2024: The Seven-Year Itch

Behukotai:

2024: Life Upright and the If/Then of Spirituality

B’MIDBAR / NUMBERS

B’midbar

B’ha’alot’kha

2017: The reason for patience
2017: In Cloud’s Shadow
2018: Waiting to Exhale
2019: Lighting us Up: Theology, Pluralism, and Becoming the Menorah
2020: The Mishkan’s Next Digital (R)Evolution
2025: What the Light is For

Shlach

Korach

2016: How to Fall on Your Face: the Spiritual Lessons of Leadership
2018: The Time God Got It Wrong
2024: The Mischief of Faction

Chukat

2017: Our Sacred Cows
2018: Bitching Bites (with R’ Evan Krame)
2024: Our Sacred Cows, Redux

Balak

2016: Separation of Shul and State
2015: The Devil You Know
2018: The art of quitting
2024: The Sacred “No” and the Devil We Know

Pinchas

2023: When Peace Isn’t So Peaceful
2024: How Women’s Lib Began

Matot-Masei

2018: Seeing It All
2023: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going
2024: Vows in a World Unhinged – and a World Redeemed

D’VARIM / DEUTERONOMY

D’varim

2016: It’s Your Turn
2020: Into and Through Tisha b’Av: the Fragile Alchemy of “Why”
2023: How We Remember
2024: Our Choice Not to Fear

Va’etchanan

2018: Spirituality When Life Says No
2019: Looking for Love in All the Rough Places
2023: Jewish Greatest Hits
2024: What’s Love Got to Do With It?

Eikev

2017: The Foundation of Our Lives
2017: Judaism’s Three R’s for the 21st Century
2019: Looking for Love in All the Rough Places
2024: The Neck’s Cure is the Heart

Re’eh

2016: This, Too, Is For Good
2023: The Eye is in the Hand of the Beholder
2024: Our Own Way
2025: The Middle Pathway

Shoftim:

Ki Tetzei

Ki Tavo

2016: The gratitude virus
2023: The Superpower of Renewing Together
2024: Blessed or Cursed?
2025: Truth or Consequences

Nitzavim

2018: When (bad) things happen to (good) people
2025: For Whom We Stand

Vayeilech

2019: Making sense of spiritual lag
2025: Be Strong and Courageous

Nitzavim-Vayeilich

2020: Tomorrow’s Giants On Our Shoulders
2024: Who’s In? You’re In. We’re All In.

Ha’azinu

V’Zot Ha-Brakha

2023: When We Become Who We’re Becoming