Rabbi Lauren Tuchman

Tag: Disability

  • The Heart Knows the Bitterness Of Its Soul: Experience As An Integral Expression of Holiness

    The Heart Knows the Bitterness Of Its Soul: Experience As An Integral Expression of Holiness

    With the marking of Rosh Chodesh Elul this week, the Jewish tradition invites us into the holiest months of the year. It’s a time for personal introspection and stock-taking, a time to ask ourselves about the people we want to be in the new year. This Elul is particularly significant…

  • Kedoshim 5781

    Kedoshim 5781

    Our double parsha this week, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, as with so much of Torah, covers a lot of ground and is multi-faceted and multi-layered. These parshiyot contain verses that have provided considerable strength and inspiration to us throughout the centuries, as well as verses that have caused tremendous pain. I am…

  • On COVID-19 and New Accessible Opportunities For Us All

    On COVID-19 and New Accessible Opportunities For Us All

    New Accessible Jewish Paradigm shifts in the Wake of COVID-19 March 20, 2020   This week has been a challenging and uncertain one for our world. We know we’re in this for the long haul, that things are going to get worse before they get better. Many of us feel…

  • Rabbi Lauren Tuchman interviewed by the Women Rabbis Talk Podcast

  • Emor 5777

    Author’s note: This commentary was written in May, 2017, in the Jewish year 5777 and was significantly updated in 5779. The LORD spoke further to Moses: Speak to Aaron and say: No man of your offspring throughout the ages who has a defect shall be qualified to offer the food…

  • Kedoshim 5779

    It has become something of a cliché in the circles I run in these days that when a teacher of Torah or a clergyperson from any religious tradition, for that matter, sits down to write a sermon, the sermon they often write is that which they most need to hear.…

  • Vayakhel 5779

    This drasha was delivered at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandrea, VA, March 1, 2019/25 Adar I, 5779 Shabbat shalom! It is my honor and privilege to be with you this Shabbat. I wish to thank the Beth El Hebrew Congregation Inclusion committee as well as Rabbi Spinrad and Cantor…

  • Jewish Disability Advocacy Day 2019 Dvar Torah

    I was privileged to deliver the following dvar Torah at Jewish Disability Advocacy Day 2019, February 26, 2019 in Washington, D.C. Shalom friends! It is an honor and privilege to be with you all this morning as we gather for Jewish Disability Advocacy Day, a time for us as Jews…

  • Tetzaveh 5779

    This dvar Torah was delivered at Anshe Emet in Chicago. Parashat Tetzaveh, 11 Adar Rishon, 5779 Shabbat shalom! It is an honor and privilege to be with you this Shabbat. I wish to extend a sincere thanks to the Kehilah Kedoshah committee, as well as to the Anshe Emet clergy…

  • Emor 5776

    This commentary was written in May 2016, in the Jewish year 5776. Parashat Emor opens with a description of right priestly conduct. In Leviticus 21:17-23, we find a lengthy list of those Kohenim who have a mum—often translated as blemish which disqualifies them from sacrificial service. This list includes blind…