Rabbi Cohen’s Writings

Dear Friends, In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Ki-Tissa, God speaks to Moses on top of Mt. Sinai and, among other instructions, explains the requirement that the people should observe one day each week as a day of rest. “Six days may work be done,” God tells him, [...]

Dear Friends, This week’s Torah Portion, Tetzaveh, continues the instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, the portable Temple that accompanied our ancestors during the desert wanderings, and the various ritual items used in it. It tells us, They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson [...]

Dear friends, In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Terumah, the Israelites are called upon to bring gifts (terumah) for the construction of the Tabernacle, the portable temple they carried with them during their desert wandering. Among the items collected are: "gold, and silver, and brass, and blue and [...]

“My dear Rabbi,” the longtime congregant wrote to the congregation’s new religious leader, “I appreciated your sermon on race relations. It was thoughtful and well-crafted. I did, however, miss hearing about Torah and religion. Perhaps your next sermon can be on something Jewish.” “Dear Rabbi,” the same congregant [...]