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Divrei Torah (sermons) for Holidays
Rosh Hashanah
- Devar Torah
for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5765/2004 (9/16/04) "A God of Justice and
Mercy"
- Devar Torah for
2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5765/2004 (9/16/04) "God Doesn't Ask the
Impossible."
- Devar Torah for
1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5766/2005 (10/4/2005) "When I Grow
Up"
- Devar Torah for
2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5766/2005 (10/4/2005) "As We Are"
- Devar Torah for
1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5767/2006 (9/23/06) "Wrestling With the
Angels"
- Devar Torah for
2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5767/2006 (9/24/06) "The Two Walked
Together"
- Devar Torah for
1st Day of Rosh Hashnah 5768/2007 (9/13/07) "The Wandering Parent"
- Devar Torah for
the 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5768/2007 (9/14/07) "Homecoming"
- Devar Torah for
1st Day of Rosh Hashnah 5769/2008 (9/30/08) "Restoring Your Faith In
Humanity"
- Devar Torah for
the 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5769/2008 (10/1/08) "Man Can Hear God and
Live"
- Devar Torah for
the 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5770/2009 (9/19/09) "The Value of
Disaster"
- Devar Torah
for the 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5770/2009 (9/20/09) "Today is the
Creation of the World"
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5777/2016 (10/3/16) "A Healthy Dose of Criticism."
- Devar Torah for 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5777/2016 (10/4/16) "A Little Cheating"
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5778/2017 (9/21/17) "Hakarat Hatov (Being Thankful)"
- Devar Torah for 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5778/2017 (9/21/17) "Flawed Heroes"
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5779/2018 (9/10/18) "Making God King"
- Devar Torah for the 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5779/2018 (9/11/18) "The Benefits of Being Stiff-Necked"
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5780/2019 (9/30/19) "Misbegotten Gains" **NEW POSTED 10/31/19**
- Devar Torah for 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5780/2019 (10/1/19) "Productive Regret" **NEW POSTED 10/31/19**
Yom Kippur
- Devar Torah For
Yom Kippur Day 5765/2004 "Why We Ask God to Remember Our Loved
Ones."
- Devar Torah for
Kol Nidre 5766/2005 (10/4/2005) "The Opportunity Inherent in
Sin"
- Devar Torah for
Yom Kippur Day 5766/2005 (10/4/2005) "You're Not Chopped
Liver."
- Devar Torah for Kol
Nidre 5767/2006 (10/1/06) "Were Last Year's Prayers Answered?"
- Devar Torah for Yom
Kippur Day 5767/2006 (10/2/06) "Plastic Surgery for the Soul"
- Devar Torah for Kol
Nidre 5768/2007 (9/14/07) "The Easiest Day to be a Jew"
- Devar Torah for Yom
Kippur Day 5768/2007 (9/15/07) "Forgiveness"
- Devar Torah for Kol
Nidre 5769/2008 (10/8/08) "Not A Panacea: Domestic Abuse and Substance
Abuse in the Jewish Community"
- Devar Torah for Yom
Kippur Day 5769/2008 (10/9/08) "In My Daughter's Eyes"
- Devar Torah for Kol
Nidre 5770/2009 (9/27/09) "What Kind of King Is God?"
- Devar Torah for
Yom Kippur 5770/2009 (9/28/09) "Holding On To the Past and Present,
While Moving Into the Future"
- Yom Kippur 5777/2016 (10/11-10/12/16) "Images of God in Judaism" and "Cultivating our Divine Image" (link also includes a source sheet on the subject).
- Devar Torah for Kol Nidre 5778/2017 (9/29/17) "Committing to Torah"
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day 5778/2017 (9/30/17) "To Be A Kid Again"
- Devar Torah for Kol Nidre 5779/2018 (9/18/18) "Three Steps to a Better You"
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day 5779/2018 (9/19/18) "Asking Constructive Questions"
- Devar Torah for Kol Nidre 5780/2019 "Productive Regret" **NEW. POSTED 12/22/19**
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day/Sh'mini Atzeret 5780/2019 "Caring for the Oppressed" **NEW. POSTED 12/22/19**
Other Holidays
- Thanksgiving
sermon at Long Beach Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration (11/22/04).
- Passover #1
"Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" (4/25/05)
- Passover
#2 "Became a Nation" (4/26/05)
- Passover
#3"What is this Worship to You" (4/10/07)
- Yizkor:
(Shavuot
6/15/05) "Live Like You Were Dying."
- Yizkor:
(Shavuot 5766/2006) (Yizkor and Aufruf)
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day/Sh'mini Atzeret 5780/2019 "Caring for the Oppressed" **NEW. POSTED 12/22/19**
Selected Weekly Divrei Torah (sermons)
Bereshith (Genesis)
Bereshit 5798/2017 "You Have Only Yourself to Blame"
Noach 10/16/04 "Perfect in His Generation"
Lech
Lecha 10/23/04 "Taking a Step"
Lech Lecha or Chayey Sarah 2018 "The Jewish Work Ethic"
Vayeira (Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5780/2019) (9/30/19) "Misbegotten Gains" **NEW POSTED 10/31/19**
Shemoth (Exodus)
Shemoth
1/1/05 "The Potential for Good and Evil" (Discussion of tsunami).
Shemoth
1/17/09 "The True Nature of a Hero" Re: Barack Obama Inauguration.
Vaera 1/8/05 "Getting in the Habit."
Vaera 1/24/09
"Experiencing God Through Human Kindness"
Bo 1/28/12 "With What We Shall Worship the LORD."
Mishpatim 1/24/14 - on the place of justice and righteousness in halakhah.
Tetzaveh: See this Devar Torah for Ki Tisa.
Ki Tisa 2/26/05 "Changing God's Mind"
Ki Tisa 3/10/07 "Birthday Sermon"
Ki Tisa 2/19/11 "Just Forty Days Later"
Vayikra (Leveticus)
Vayikra/Tzav/Sh'mini (Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5780/2019) (9/30/19) "Misbegotten Gains" **NEW POSTED 10/31/19**
Bamidbar (Numbers) Naso
6/12/05 "Relating to Yourself and Others." Devarim (Deuteronomy)
Emor 5/19/04 "Interview" Shabbat
Beha'alotecha "You Can't Always Get What You Want".
Beha'alotecha "Changing the Status Quo".
Korach 7/2/05
"The Value of Dissent."
Korach 5777/2017
"The Opportunity to Serve"
Ekev 8/8/09 "Renewing Classic Debates in Judaism". This d'var Torah was prepared for the Parashat Hashavua series offered by Morashah, the rabbinic fellowship if the UTJ.
Reeh 8/14/04
First Shabbat with Temple Israel
Ki Tavo
9/4/04 "Hayom"
- Prayer services for Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and Yom Hazikaron (Israel Memorial Day). This service follows the order in the Rinat Yisrael siddur. Rather than reproducing all of the prayers, only psalms and prayers not found in regular siddurim and chumashim are included in this pdf. Reference is made to page numbers in the Art Scroll siddur and Hertz Chumash as to where other texts may be found. This service can be easily integrated for synagogues using other siddurim and chumashim.
- Passover Mailing: Passover
and Seder preparation guide, the chametz
sale form, Ma'ot
Chittim information, (5770/2010, passover preparation guide has one additional note added in 2012).
Contract of sale for chametz. Please note that many people prefer an option contract where the value of the chametz, and hence the sale price, would be determined at a later date. I prefer setting a fixed price for the chametz.
- How to Light
Chanukah Candles (5770/2009). UPDATED FOR 2009.
- Laws
of the 9 days and Tisha B'av (includes discussion of the 3 weeks).
- Textual Study Following Birkat HaTorah (The Blessing of Torah Study) On Tisha b'Av .
- An
overview of the laws of sitting in the Sukkah
- Does One Wear Tefillin On Chol
Hamoed?
-
Living in the Sukkah on Shemini Atseret
- Songs for Simchat Torah (or other occasions). 13 simple and familiar songs with translation and transliteration, designed for printing on a single page (front and back).
- Shabbat
Evening At Home
- Being
a Halachic Jew: Why the Old Labels Just Don't Fit (Shavuot discussion
5767/2007)
- Invocation
at 2004 Kristallnacht commemoration sponsored by the Holocaust
Memorial Committee of Long Island.
- Invocation
at 2005 Kristallnacht commemoration sponsored by the Holocaust
Memorial Committee of Long Island. Posted.
- Invocation
at 2009 Kristallnacht commemoration sponsored by the Holocaust
Memorial Committee of Long Island. Posted
- Opened letter regarding women's roles in Temple Israel
-
Response to Rabbi Herschel Schachter's Article on Women as
Rabbis
- Basic
Judaism Course Materials (Work in progress. This PDF includes
the syllabus, the "Guided Tour to the Siddur," and the beginning of
"Jewish Literature, from Torah to Today" (covering Genesis-Job plus Lamentations (Aycha) and Esther).
- Temple
Israel's Junior Congregation and Hebrew School Siddur.
- Information
and prayers for an unveiling ceremony.
- Rabbinic perspectives on intellectual property. published on Jewish Values Online.
- Fixed prayer in Judaism. published on Jewish Values Online.
- The permissibility of using scientific data from Nazi experimentation published on Jewish Values Online.
- Instructions on how to make a shiva visit (a visit to a Jewish house of mourning).
- Preparation and Order of a Wedding Ceremony. I use this document to help prepare for a wedding. It includes the basic texsts, forms for the couple to fill out to help identify how the ceremony runs, who will receive honors, helpful tips and checklists, etc. It also includes some suggestions on how to improve the gender-balance in weddings, particualrly borrowing many suggestions from Rabbi Dov Linzer in his articles Toward a More Balanced Wedding Ceremony and Double Ringe Ceremonies.
- For Coronavirus Shortened Minyanim, Daven Through Yishtabach At Home. Discussion of proper procedure for minyanim when people recite Pesukei d'Zimrah at home or when waiting for a minyan before Shokhen Ad/Yishtabah/Barehu.
- Abortion, Halakhah, and Civil Society
- Printable megillah texts with Hebrew and 1917 JPS translation: Halacha
Biblical Studies
Philosophy Rabbinic Literature - Learn Haftorah trope. Letters to the Editor: - 2/23/07 Letter to the
Editor of The Jewish Week re: Changing
the Rules - Why Halacha should not change to match common practice. Articles including
Rabbi Gradofsky: - 10/1/04 Article in the The
Jewish Star: Temple
Israel Installs Rabbi Gradofsky
-Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs)
-Ruth
-Koheleth (Ecclesiastes)
-Esther
- List of tractates of the Mishnah and Talmuds
- Maimonides'
Seder: Mishneh Torah Laws of Chametz and Matzah Chapter 8, translated and
annotated.
- "Omer
Observances: Appropriate Abstinence or Excessive Restraint?"
- What
Haftorah Should Be Recited for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Av? Note: This source
sheet is not translated, though there are some English notes.
- It Really Is a
Sin: Waste in Jewish Law
- Listening to
music/live music after the destruction of the Temple and the ceasing of the
Sanhedrin.
- The
Command of God: The meaning and Application of Blessings that State "Who
Has Sanctified Us By Your Commandment and Commanded Us To . . ."
Particular attention to the blessing on reciting Hallel on Rosh Chodesh.
(Posted 1/8/06)
- Lashon Harah - Halachic Aspects
- May additional
aliyahs (hosafot) be added on Yom Tov or Yom Kippur? Note: This source
sheet is not translated, though there are some English notes. (Posted
1/26/06)
- Jewish Law on
Abortion and its Implications for Stem Cell Research (Summer Shabbat Study
2007/5767, posted 8/24/07). Should be read along with Dr. Daniel
Eisenberg's "Stem
Cell Research and Jewish Law" found on jlaw.com.
- May a non-Kohen Receive the First Aliya?.
- Women and Talit and Tefillin.
- BT Yevamoth 45-47 and Immersion of a Convert.
- Birkat Kohanim (The Priestly Blessing), Nigunim (tunes), and Reciting the Ribon Shel Olam for Disturbing Dreams.
- What If the Only Kohen Available To Do Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing) is the Shaliah Tzibur (Cantor)?.
- On the Ashkenazi Practice of Limiting Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing) to Holidays. Please comment (and view further discussions) on the UTJ Facebook Group
- Online Megillah and Parshat Zakhor Readings during the Corona Virus Epidemic (discussion with Rabbi Alaln J. Yuter). ***NEW Posted 5/3/20***
- Yes, You May Wear a Mask on Shabbat, Regardless of Eruv ***NEW Posted 5/3/20***
- VIDEO AND SOURCE SHEET An Open and Shut Case? Opening and Closing the Torah scroll during the Blessings for an Aliyah. This is a compendium of sources addressing some points of conduct during the blessings before and after an aliyah. I present the following primary conclusions: (a) one should hold the Torah scroll open while reciting the blessing before the Torah is read and close the Torah scroll prior to reciting the blessing after the Torah is read; (b) while reciting the blessing prior to the reading of the Torah, one should look at the place in the Torah where the reading will begin or, if one does not know the blessing by heart, look at the text of the blessing; (c) after the aliyah, anything that is customarily done out of respect for the Torah during the interim between aliyot, for example, covering the Torah scroll, should be done immediately after the reader has concluded reading from the Torah, rather than waiting until after the closing blessing has been recited. In addition to these halakhic conclusions, I argue that: (a) where Tosafot rule that it is preferable for one to hold the Torah scroll closed during the blessing prior to the reading from the Torah, they are ruling in accordance with Rabbi Meir, rather than saying that Rabbi Yehudah agrees with Rabbi Meir on this point; and (b) Rashba and Mordechai's argument that the Torah should be closed between aliyot is convincing, but the argument that the Talmud implies this is anachronistic. In concluding this study, I note that the rules discussed revolve around according proper honor to the Torah, and I pray that study of these sources and proper practice during an aliyah sensitizes us to the many opportunities for bringing honor to the Torah in every aspect of our lives.
A video of a shiur (class) on this subject can be viewed from the link above (which includes a source sheet, best viewed from the pdf found on the linked page). The video is also embedded here. If you would like to comment on Facebook about this video, please do that here.
- On Women and Reading Megillah. Please comment (and view further discussions) on the UTJ Facebook Group.
- VIDEO AND SOURCE SHEETWomen and Tsitsit/Tallit. Please comment (and view further discussions) on the UTJ Facebook group. A discussion of women and the mitzvah of Tsitsit (originally presented to Lechu Neranena, the Partnership Minyan of Bala Cynwyd (outside Philadelphia)). Conclusions: (a) It seems that at least early on in the rabbinic period, probably extending at least into the early Amoraic period, Rabbi Shimon's opinion to the effect that women were exempt from tsitsit was considered a minority opinion. However, moving forward it apparently became a fairly universal opinion (it is unclear if this transition happened during the Amoraic period). The sources of this ruling are not clear and there is an argument to be made that the halakhah "should" have been decided otherwise. (b) The position in favor of women making a blessing on wearing tsitsit may be strengthened by the fact that there is an argument that the ruling that women are exempt from tsitsit may have been based on false pretenses. (c) There is general agreement that (big H) Halakhically, women may wear tsitsit, though the Ashkenazi voice in the Shulchan Arukh says that it is haughty for them to do so and thus recommends against it (Rabbi Karo seems to have consciously declined to mention this line of thought in the Shulchan Arukh). There is significant debate as to whether a woman may say a blessing upon putting on tsitsit. (d) Women who chose to put on a tallit receive reward for doing so. (e) To the extent that a woman's motivations for wearing a tallit are criticized as being improper (an argument that is in no way adopted), this criticism seems contrary to Rav's aphorism that a person should always do mitzvot even if the person is doing so for personal reasons. (f) For purposes of Lechu Neranena, I consulted with our halakhic advisor, Rabbi Martin Lockshin. He wrote (in part), "I have no problem with women wearing tsitsit if they wish. I know that it bothers some people. I see that simply as a sociological problem that can be overcome, I hope, with sensitivity and a gentle approach." He feels that a woman may say a blessing on wearing a tallit. Regarding whether a woman should wear a tallit that is more clearly feminine, he wrote that it might be best, but he doesn't see it as a deal-breaker.; (f) In footnote 12 I introduce some preliminary thoughts on why the halakhah was decided in favor of Rabbi Shimon's minority view which requires further study.
A video of a shiur (class) on this subject can be viewed from the link above (which includes a source sheet, best viewed from the pdf found on the linked page). The video is also embedded here.
- VIDEO AND SOURCE SHEET Nihum Avelim (Consolation of Mourners) on Shabbat. This is a shiur (class) I put together in commemoration of the sheloshim (30th day from the funeral) of my father, Melvin Gradofsky. Topics discussed include whether it is permissible to do nihum avelim on Shabbat, whether public displays of consolation are permitted on Shabbat, and whether the standard wishes offered to mourners may be used on Shabbat.
Portions of the text that I read during the shiur appear on screen in this video. This video as well as a full source sheet is available from the UTJ Viewpoints page here. A link to the video from Melvin Gradofsky's funeral can also be found from this link. If you would like to discuss this video, please comment via the UTJ Facebook page here.
- Does It Matter If Your Dog Eats Toothpaste? A discussion on the standards by which something that contains hametz becomes permitted for use (other than eating) on Passover.
- VIDEO The Halakhic Process in a Pandemic. Rabbi Noah Gradofsky (me) and Dr. Mira Morgenstern in Conversation. How does halakhic analysis determine what is expected of us during these unique and challenging times? How has the pandemic affected our halakhic observance? Click here for links to material referenced during the webinar.**NEW POSTED 3/30/21**
- Blind
Faith or Rational Practice: Do Mitzvot Have Reasons, and Should We Investigate
Them? (Shavuot Class 2008 on Ta'amei Hamitzvot)
- Reversal
of Fortune: How the Course of History Was Changed by the Garden of Eden. A study
of the text and the chiastic structure of Genesis 2:4-4:1.
- The Haftarah for Yom Kippur Morning Provides a selection of comments on the haftarah for Yom Kippur as well as some visual aids to see how the text uses certain key words.
- VIDEO AND SOURCE SHEET Sh’lach – The Sins of The Fathers Parashah (weekly Torah reading) class on Sh'lach exploring the meaning of the statement that God "visits the iniquities of ancestors on children." The source sheet is best viewed/printed from here.
- A
survival guide to the Jewish New Year (outline of Chovot Halevavot on repentance).
- Desire:
Temptation Toward Evil or Inspiration For Good (Slichot Discussion 9/8/07)
- Blind
Faith or Rational Practice: Do Mitzvot Have Reasons, and Should We Investigate
Them? (Shavuot Discussion 2008 re: Ta'amei Hamitzvot). (posted
2/10/09)
- Images of God in Judaism (pre-slichot discussion 2016, link also includes Yom Kippur sermons for 2016)
- The
Seder in Rabbinic Literature Updated March 2012 (particularly additions concerning the biblical sources for the story of the four children, pages 17-21, also some notes on the four children on pages 14-16).
- Selected Rabbinic
Midrash on the Book of Ruth (Shavuot class 2006, posted 6/11/06)
- "At the Foot of Sinai: Midrashim on the Giving of the Torah".
- Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 5:7 and Avot d'Rabbi Nattan, Text A, 1:37.
- "With All Due Respect:" Selected Midrashim and Ethics of the Fathers on Proper Respect for
Superiors, Colleagues, and Subordinates.
Other
- Introduction
to Judaism lecture at the Long Beach Public Library, May 21, 2009.
- 10/12/07 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Matching
strict ritual halachic standards with strict ethical standards (avoiding
sales tax on a Sukkah).
- 7/13/07 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Week re: The
individual rabbi versus the cult of gedolim (deferring to the "rabbinic
heavyweight").
- 8/31/07 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Understanding
the differences between Science and Religion.
- 12/26/08 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Ethical
standards and kashruth supervision.
- 2/5/09 Letter to the Editor of the Long
Beach Herald, "We
have not overcome - yet" re: President Obama's election and the
continuing struggle for civil rights.
- 9/11/09 Letter to the Editor of The
Jewish Star re: Shiluach
Haken (sending away the mother bird before taking the eggs/young). (Original
article 8/28/09)
- 3/27/14 Rabbi Schachter's Troubling Tone By Rabbis Ronald Price and Noah Gradofsky on belahf of the Union for Traditional Judaism in response to Rabbi Herschel Schachter's responsum about allowing young women to wear tefillin in yeshiva high schools. Rabbi Schachter's teshuvah can be found here in Hebrew and an unofficial translation is here. An article on the teshuva can be found here. If any of these links do not work, please let me know as I have pdf backups.
- 8/22/14 Letter to the Editor of the Jewish Press regarding competition within marriage. Follow this link and go to page 82 (if the link does not work, please let me know). For the original article, follow this link and go to page 105 (note after going to the page it is helpful to click the two arrows pointing outward (on the bottom right) to expand the paper to full screen
- 4/12/06 Article in the Record (Bergen
County edition): Divine
Advice for Passover Chefs.
- 12/2/06 Article in Newsday: Faith
Q&A: Are Religious Student Groups wrong for Public Schools?
- 6/9/07 Article in Newsday: Faith
Q&A: Should
Faith Groups Be Involved In Immigration Issues?
- 10/27/07 Article in Newsday: Faith
Q&A: Do
You Believe People Can See The Future?
- 12/16/07 Picture and Caption in the Long
Beach Herald: Rabbi
and kids shoot dreidel @ the Chanukah party.
- 10/28/08 Article in Newsday: Faith,
Hope and Charity (re: religious responses to the economic downturn).
- 1/15/09 Article in the Long
Beach Herald: Religious Leaders React to Israel-Hamas War: Scan
of Newspaper (includes pictures) / Pdf
from website (cleaner text).
- 2/13/18 'Orthodox' Is Not A Trademark Of The OU The Jewish Week Online Edition, February 13, 2018. Argues that the Orthodox Union should include the "Open Orthodox" camp within its organization, and further that Open Orthodoxy has a legitimate claim on the term "Orthodox."
- 6/14/18 Why Don't More Women Weart Tsitsit JOFA Blog article arguing discussing the history of women being exempt from the mitzvah of tsitsit and arguing that perhaps this exemption stemmed from a misinterpretation of certain Talmudic sources. Discussion that this argument may raise new considerations when a woman decides whether to exercise her right to wear tsitsit.
- 10/4/19 Distinguishing Jewish Values From Political Imperatives My article, appearing in the October 4, 2019 New York Jewish Week (pages 27-28) discussing the challenges of political advocacy based on Jewish values when the Jewish community is so divided politically.
- 5/11/20 To Protect Life During a Plague, Build Yourself a Fence My article apparing online in the Jewish week on May 11, 20220 providing a halakhic perspective toward social distancing and erring on the side of caution during a pandemic.
- 12/15/20 A Hollow Victory for Religious Liberty My article apparing in JURIST Legal News and Commentary regarding the Supreme Court decision striking down certain coronavirus-related limitations on attendance in synagogues and churces. **NEW POSTED 12/15/20**