Past Divrei Torah

Here is a collection of DC Minyan's best Divrei Torah. If you've heard a particularly good one at DC Minyan, email chinuch@dcminyan.org and nominate it to be added to the website.

• Yitro Dvar Torah - Jonathan Groner, February 2015
• Ne'ilah Dvar Tefillah - Abigail Romirowsky, September 2013
  How does the apparent finality of the Neilah service impact our intentions for prayer now and our motivation for action tomorrow? A twist on the traditional view of the "Book of Life."
• Yizkor Dvar Tefillah - Adam Szubin, September 2013
• Kol Nidre Dvar Tefillah - Josh Wilkenfeld, September 2013
  The Yom Kippur liturgy includes repeated references to the Biblical narrative of the Sin of the Spies, setting out the aftermath of that episode as a guide for own repentence. But, on closer inspection, the dynamics at play there seem a poor fit for our traditional conceptions of the process of atonement: In seeking repentance for the Sin of the Spies, the people offer no acceptance of responsibility and no commitment for changed behavior going-forward. This D'var Torah examines why, then, the codifiers of the Machzor chose to focus on this episode, and what lessons we might draw to help guide our own thoughts around Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
• Shmot Dvar Torah - Jeremy Kadden, January 2013
  Was Moses truly an Israelite? He had to show the Children of Israel that he was really one of them and not an Egyptian in sheep's clothing.
• Sukkot Dvar Torah - Josh Nason, October 2012
• Ne'ilah Dvar Tefillah - Evan Zoldan, October 2011
  Nei'lah, which encourages us to make resolutions to improve ourselves in the coming year, is in some tension with both the thrust of Kol Nidre and our natural inability to stick to even well-intentioned resolutions. This d'var tefillah argues that the Yom Kippur liturgy itself suggests a way to break out of this cycle of resolve and regret.
• Maariv Dvar Tefillah - Lia Katz