Kol Ramah

Parashat Va-yaq'hel-P’qudai [35:1–40:38] concludes the Book of Exodus, echoing the parts of the three previous parashiyot which contain the instructions for the Tabernacle. This week, the parashah describes the building of the Tabernacle, concluding with the note that “when Moses had finished the work, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” [Ex. 40:33b-35]. Most of our conversation expored the ramifications of verses 40:20-21, which describe the placement of the edut, translated as “Pact” in the NJPS and “testimony” in JPS, in the ark. We reserved some time at the end to talk about Exodus 12:1-21, the maftir for Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the Shabbat coinciding with, or as with this year just before, Rosh Hodesh Nisan, observed next Thursday, March 19, 2026. Our thoughts and prayers are with the soldiers of the US Armed Forces and I

Parashat Ki Tisa [Exodus 30:11-34:35] this year coincides with Shabbat Parah [maftir, Numbers 19:1-22; haftarah, Ezekiel 36:16-38], the third special Shabbat before Pesah. It comes the week before Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, which occurs on Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Nisan, or the Shabbat before, as is the case this year. There are some final details about the plans for the mishkan [Tabernacle] and a concluding chapter which Nahum Sarna entitles “Renewal of the Covenant”, but the main focus is the two chapters devoted to the Golden Calf [32:1-33:23]. It is this episode which was the subject of our conversation. Once again, soldiers in Israel’s Defense Forces are at war, together with soldiers in the United States’ Armed Forces. May they be removed from harm’s way; may a just peace descend upon the Middle East. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Tetzaveh [Exodus 27:20-30:10] this year corresponds with Shabbat Zakhor, the 2nd of the 4 special parashiyot before Passover, marked on the Shabbat before Purim, celebrated Monday evening and Tuesday, March 2-3. Passover begins 4 weeks from Wednesday! The parashah continues last week’s parashah, with this week focusing on priestly clothing and the installation of the priests., and concluding with a short section on the incense altar. Our conversation focused on 2 verses, one from last week, 25:22, and one from this week, 29:43, linked by the verb ונועדתי [ve-no’ad’ti, I will meet, referring to God.]. With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom and Simchat Purim, a peaceful Shabbat and a joyous Purim!

Parashat T’rumah [Exodus 25:1-27:19] begins the lengthy section describing the mishkan [tabernacle] and its construction, which will take us through to the end of Exodus. There are a few verses that stand out, such as the three-fold repetition of t’ruman [gift] in verses 25:1-2 and the plural verb cconstruction in verses 8 and 10, the former describing the making of the sanctuary [miqdash] and the latter the ark. I had planned to join from Vienna, where I currently am with my two older kids, but wi-fi problems precluded my participation. So here is the show with Eliot and Jeremy. I hope to be back next week, when I am back in the States, but give a listen this week, too. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Mishpatim [Exodus 21:1-24:18] is largely taken up by the Covenant Code. One way to look at the Covenant Code is to see it as the details for which the Ten Commandments, read last week, are, so to speak, the chapter headings. The end of the parashah is narrative, entitled by Sarna in his JPS Commentary on Exodus as “The Renewal of the Divine Promises” and “The Ratification of the Covenant”. It is perhaps fair to say that our conversation meanders between these two foci of law and narrative. Give a listen and let us know what you think. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Yitro [Exodus 18:1-20:23] features the organization of the judiciary, prompted by Yitro’s suggestion to Moshe on how he could reduce the burden on him, and the revelation at Mt. Sinai, where depending on one’s belief system, Moshe received the Torah, the Ten Commandments, or something else. It is hard not to get caught up in chapter 19, which is the description of the revelation itself, preceding the Ten Commandments in chapter 20. What is the purpose of revelation? why on a mountain? how do the various characters -- God, Moshe, the Israelites -- come off? Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat B’shallach [Exodus 13:17-17:16] is the 4th parashah in the Book of Exodus. It features the dramatic crossing of the Sea of Reeds [14:1-31] with the companion poem [15:1-19], and a number of misfortunes: the lack of water, the lack of food, another lack of water [the Exodus story of Moses & The Rock, reprised in Numbers 20:1-13], and the attack of Amalek, which will reverberate through biblical history and beyond. It is a partiuclarly rich parashah in a book that is known to have several. We hope our conversation lives up to the parashah! We take note of the return of the body of Ran Gvili to Israel for a well-deserved dignified burial. This is the first time since 2014 that there are no Israeli hostages in Gaza. It is a time of complex emotional responses, but surely thanksgiving is one of them. We continue to keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Bo [Exodus 10:1-13:16], which includes the final 3 plagues, also has one of my favorite chapters in the entire Torah. Chapter 12 is read twice a year for those who complete the Torah reading annually, for the first 20 verses are read on Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the shabbat coinciding with Rosh Hodesh Nisan or just before it, and the final 31 verses are read on the 1st day of Passover. The chapter includes a description of Pesah mitzrayim, the Passover celebrated by our ancestors in Egypt, and Pesah le-dorot, the Passover celebrated in subsequent generations to commemorate that 1st Passover. And there is much else! We continue to keep in our hearts Ran Gvili, the remaining hostage yet to be returned to Israel for a proper, dignifiied burial. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va’era [Exodus 6:2-9:35] is the second parashah in the Book of Exodus, and a lot happens. Moses returns to Egypt and takes the mantle of leadership, appearing before Pharaoh with his brother, Aaron, his mouthpiece. In one place, God tells Moses, who is concerned about his public speaking deficiencies, that he will be like God, and Aaron his prophet. Very quickly, the text moves through the first 7 plagues, preparing for the denoument next week, with the last three plagues and the Exodus, the actual leaving of Egypt. There is so much to say about this parashah, but we focused on the roles of Moses and Aaron. We were missing Jeremy again this week, who is sitting shivah for his father, Michael Kaplan z”l, who died last Friday and was buried on Sunday. Our condolences to Jeremy and his family. We continue to keep in mind Ran Gvili, who remains the single hostage whose body has not been returned for its much deserved proper and dignified burial. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as

Parashat Sh’mot [Exodus 1:1-6:1] is the first parashah of Sefer Sh’mot [the Book of Exodus]. The book opens up with a quick summary of the end of Genesis, detailing that Jacob and his sons came to Egypt. Very quickly these b’nai Yisrael, the children and grandchildren of Israel, the patriarch Jacob, become b’nai yisrael, the people Israel. In just a few verses, a family three-generation family of 70 becomes a nation of perhaps 2 million and more, and troubles ensue. The parashah is chockful of interesting verses, commentaries, and longer sections. eAs is often the case, we meander through the parashah. We were missing our good friend and colleague, Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, who is tending to family matters. We hope that you find our conversation sufficiently engaging, even though Jeremy is clearly missed. We continue to keep in mind Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, and hope and pray his body will be soon returned to Israel for the dignified funeral he and his family deserve. We also have

Parashat Va-yehi [Genesis 47:28-50:26] is the last parashah in the Book of Genesis. It records the end of Jacob’s life and the end of Joseph’s life. In between we have the adoption of Menasheh and Ephraim, raising them to traibal status, and the elevation of Ephraim over Menashe, even though Menashe is the older. There is also the testament of Jacob [chapter 49], in which Jacob’s offers his final words to each of his sons. There is much more, but an abbreviated schedule meant we did not get to everything we might have, had cirucmstances been different. In the meanwhile, best wishes for a Happy New Year. May 2026 be a year of blessing and peace. We keep in mind Ran Gvili, who yet remains a hostage in Gaza, may he be returned to his family, immediately, for a proper, dignified burial. We also have in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va-yiggash [Genesis 44:18-47:27] is the penultimate parashah in the Book of Genesis. It is hard to believe that it has been well over two months since we began our annual reading in the synagogue! This parashah provides the climax to the saga of Joseph and his brothers, with the big reveal, the reunion of the brothers, now each known to one another, and the reunion of Jacob with all of his sons. We sometimes lose sight of the idea that these stories in Genesis operate on two distinct levels: on one level, they are the stories of individuals in specific family relationships; on another level, they are stories about tribal dynamics, a way of explaining the national drama. We try to address both in our conversation this week. Please leave any comments below. Now well over 800 days into the war, Ran Gvili remains the single hostage who remains in captivity. We continue to pray for his speedy release to his family for a final, dignified burial. We also have in mind the soldiers who defend Israel as

Parashat Mi-ketz [Genesis 41:1-44::17] is the second parashah in the extended Joseph saga, which stretches over 4 parashiyot, taking us to the end of Genesis in two weeks. This year, it coincides with Rosh Hodesh and Hanukkah, an occurrence which happens with some frequency. In 1991, this triple Torah header took place on the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and my senior sermon. It allowed me to begin by noting this was the Jewish version of Torah Torah Torah. I spoke then of the butler’s confession, et hatta’i ani mazkir ha-yom, My sins I mention today. The midrash pays attention to the plural, sins, noting that the butler sinned against Pharaoh, which caused him to be sent to jail, and he sinned against Joseph by letting him languish in jail after promising to mention him at the end of last week’s parashah. It occurred to me only recently that the butler had in mind his sin against Joseph does not make a great deal sense; what is the value of a public confession when the person sinned against is no

Parsha Talk Vayeshev Rabbi Kalmanofsky 2025 5786 by Camp Ramah in the Berkshires

Parsha Talk Vayeshev Rabbi Malomet 2025 5786 by Camp Ramah in the Berkshires

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

This recording is from the Radio Kol Ramah archives 2012. If you were curious which music our scholar-in-residence listens to, you will not want to miss this episode of Rabbi Eliezer Diamond’s weekly radio show on Kol Ramah 102.3 FM. Featuring music of Debbie Friedman, Doc Watson and the Band.