One of the core values of the Havurah movement is the active role played by community members.
Shabbat Divrei Torah | Holiday Divrei Torah
Additional Commentaries
At Fabrangen this active role is expressed, among other ways, in the discussion of the weekly Torah portion. In place of the rabbi’s sermon, each Shabbat a Fabrangen member or invited guest will give a “drash” (i.e., a talk, a “d’var Torah”) introducing some aspect of the weekly portion. The drash is preceded by a partial Hebrew reading and a triennial reading of the weekly Torah portion in English, and it is followed by an animated and wide-ranging community discussion.
The drash itself may focus on textual analysis, on a key philosophical theme of the particular Torah portion, or on ways in which some aspect of the Torah portion affects us in our lives. During the Torah discussion, everyone – newcomers and guests included – are encouraged to share their thoughts about the weekly portion. Because a different person gives the drash each week, this tradition provides a wonderful glimpse into the intellectual gifts and diversity of the Fabrangen community.
For many of us, the drash and Torah discussion are a particularly memorable part of each Shabbat experience—something to be reflected on during the coming work week.
Here are two sources for the actual texts themselves:
- Hebcal Torah Readings
- The Sefaria Library (Click the button for Parashat Hashavua under “Calendar”)
Here are written versions of past drashes by Fabrangen members.
Shabbat Divrei Torah
| Parashah | D’var Torah | Parashah | D’var Torah | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bereishit Genesis 1:1-6:8 | ● Ross Bettinger, 2016 Bereishit ● Rick LaRue, 2020 Let There Be Light: Transparency, Connections and Mechitzas | ● David Goldston, 2023 B’reishit ● Chuck Feinberg, 2024 Truthtelling | Shemini Leviticus 9:1-11:47 | |||
| Noah Genesis 6:9-11:32 | ● Caleb Kriesberg, 2012 Noah – Does Judaism Root for the Ravens? | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2023 Parshat Noah | Tazria/ Metzora Leviticus 12:1-13:59 Leviticus 14:1-15:33 | ● David Goldston, 2023 Parsha Tazria-Metzora | ● Dale Brown & Dale Lupu, 2025 Parsha Tazria-Metzora |
|
| Lekh Lekha Genesis 12:1-17:27 | Achrei Mot Leviticus 16:1-18:30 | ● David Goldston, 2024 D’rash Achrei Mot |
||||
| Vayeira Genesis 18:1-22:24 | ● David Goldston, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 2018 Vayeira | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2024 Parashat Vayera | Kedoshim Leviticus 19:1-20:27 | |||
| Hayei Sarah Genesis 23:1-25:18 | ● Bracha Laster, 2013 (Revised 2017 at Fabrangen West) Parshat Hayei Sarah | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2020 The Life of Sarah | Emor Leviticus 21:1-24:23 | ● David Goldston, 2022 D’rash Emor | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2025 Parshat Emor, Leviticus 21:1-24:23. |
|
| Toldot Genesis 25:19-28:9 | Behar/Behukkotai Leviticus 25:1-26:2 Leviticus 26:3-27:34 | |||||
| Vayetzei Genesis 28:10-32:3 | ● Rachel Braun, 2015 Adonai was in this place… | Bamidbar Numbers 1:1-4:20 | ● David Goldston, 2020 D’rash B’midbar ● Fran Goldman, 2024 Drash on Bamidbar | ● Evan Rolfe, 2025 Drash on B’midbar |
||
| Vayishlah Genesis 32:4-36:43 | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2024 Vayishlach | Naso Numbers 4:21-7:89 | ● Larry Garber, 2020 Torah Drash – Parshat Naso ● Caleb Kriesberg, 2023 Parshat Naso | ● Larry Garber, 2025 Drash Parsha Naso |
||
| Vayeishev Genesis 37:1-40:23 | ● David Goldston, 2024 Vayeshev, Genesis 37 | Beha’alotekha Numbers 8:1-12:16 | ● Rachel Braun, 2023 Torah service warning: subversion ahead! | ● Abby Bellows, 2025 Parsha Beha’alotcha |
||
| Mikeitz Genesis 41:1-44:17 | ● David Goldston, 2021 Genesis 41:1-44:17 | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2024 Miketz – Genesis 41:1-44:17 | Shelah Numbers 13:1-15:41 | ● Deborah Shapiro, 2013 Numbers 13-16 | ● Amy Brookman, 2025 Struggle with the Power of Words |
|
| Vayigash Genesis 44:18-47:27 | Korah Numbers 16:1-18:32 | ● Allen Hirsh, 2025 Korach | ● David Goldston, 2025 D’rash Korach |
|||
| Vayehi Genesis 47:28-50:26 | Paul Scham, 2025 B’reshit Chs.49 and 50: Parshat Va’y’chi | Hukkat Numbers 19:1-22:1 | ||||
| Shemot Exodus 1:1-6:1 | ● Chuck Feinberg, 2024 Parashat Shmot: Moses Alone | Balak Numbers 22:2-25:9 | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2017 Balak | ● Allen Hirsh, 2024 A Modern’s Take on Balaam |
||
| Va-eira Exodus 6:2-9:35 | ● David Goldston, 2024 D’rash on Va’era | ● Chuck Feinberg, 2025 The Plagues and Creation | Pinhas Numbers 25:10-30:1 | ● Bob Rovinsky z”l, 2010 Numbers 25:10–30:1 ● Deborah Shapiro, 2013 Numbers 25:10-30:1 ● Lucy Steinitz, 2020 Pinchas / Numbers 25:10–30:1 | ● David Goldston, 2024 D’rash Pinchas ● Nancy Sherman, 2025 Pinchas Drash |
|
| Bo Exodus 10:1-13:16 | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2023 Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 | ● Eric Rosenthal, 2024 Bo – Exodus 10-12 | Mattot/ Mas’ei Numbers 30:2-32:42 Numbers 33:1-36:13 | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2021 Numbers 30:2–36:13 ● Lucy Steinitz, 2024 Numbers 30:2–36:13 | ● Eric Rosenthal, 2025 D’var Torah Matot-Masei Presented to Congregation Ahavas Achim, Newburyport, MA |
|
| B’shallah> Exodus 13:17-17:16 | ● Esther Ticktin on her 80th Birthday, 2005 B’shalah | ● Rose Sue Berstein, 2025 Shabbat Shirah Parshat B’Shalach | Devarim Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27 | ● Rabbi Charles Feinberg, 2025 Officers of Sodom, Shabbat Hazon, Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27 |
||
| Yitro Exodus 18:1-20:23 | ● David Goldston, 2014 Yitro | ● David Goldston, 2025 D’rash on Yitro | Va-et-hannan Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 | ● Zahara Heckscher z”l, 2016 The Mountaintop ● Bracha Laster, 2021 Parshat VaEtHannan-Shema ● Rabbi Charles Feinberg, 2023 God Alone | ● Nancy Sherman, 2024 Deut. Va-Ethannan. 3.23-6 ●Dale Brown, 2025 Drash Va Ethannan |
|
| Mishpatim Exodus 21:1-24:18 | ● Manny Thorne, 2013 Mishpatim | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2025 Mishpatim, Exodus 21:1 – 24:18. | Eikev Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 | ● Mark Perlis, 2012 Deuteronomy 11:13-21 ● David Kriesberg, 2006 Eikev – On the occasion of his bar mitzvah | ● Fran Goldman, 2020 Eikev ● David Goldston, 2024 Eikev |
|
| Terumah Exodus 25:1-27:19 | Re-ei Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 | ● Caleb Kriesberg, 2003 Re’ei 2003 ● Debbie Goldman, August 15, 2020 Parsha R’eih – 100th anniversary of 19th Amendment ● Bracha Laster, August 31, 2024 Parsha Re’eh |
||||
| Tetzavveh Exodus 27:20-30:10 | ● Rachel Braun, 2018 The Menorah: Embracing an Impossible Symbol ● David Goldston, 2020 Tetzaveh | ● Bracha Laster, Judybeth Greene & Renana Brooks, 2021 Parshat Tetzaveh | Shofetim Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 | ● Cara Sodos, 2024 Shoftim | ● Gilah Langner, 2025 Shoftim |
|
| Ki Tissah Exodus 30:11-34:35 | ● Rachel Braun, 2022 Golden Calf… the short and the long of it | Ki Tetzei Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2025 Ki Tetzei |
|||
| Vayak-hel Exodus 35:1-38:20 | ● Rachel Braun, 2020 Finishing the book of Exodus, 5780 | Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 | ● Deborah Shapiro, 2011 Deuteronomy 26:13 |
|||
| Pekudei Exodus 38:21-40:38 | ● Bracha Laster, 2024 Parshat Pekudei | ● Lucy Steinitz, 2025 Parshat Pekudei | Nitazavim/ Vayeilech Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30 | ● Emily Naden, 2025 Vayelech |
||
| Vayikra Leviticus 1:1-5:26 | Haazinu Ha’azinu | ● Caleb Kriesberg, 2020 Haazinu – Shabbat Shuvah | ● David Goldston, 2024 Ha’azinu – Shabbat Shuvah |
|||
| Tzav Leviticus 6:1-8:36 | ● Deborah Shapiro, 2013 Tsav | ● David Goldston 2022 D’rash Tzav | Vezot Haberakhah Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12 | |||
Holiday Divrei Torah
| Parashah | D’var Torah | |
|---|---|---|
| Pesach | ||
| Shavu’ot | ● Rachel Braun, 2019 Ruth and Naomi, Devoted Partners in memory of Dorothy Braun z”l ● Lucy Steinitz, 2019 Yizkor | ● Rachel Braun, 2020 Torah is acquired in 48 ways. Pirkei Avot 6:6 |
| Rosh Hashanah Day 1 | ● Esther Ticktin z”l The Readings on Rosh Hashanah ● Susan Barocas, RH Day 1, 2012 As a child, I never knew Rosh Hashanah had so many names. ● Rachel Braun, 2020 Yotzer Ohr — Cracks of Light and Reading the Shema incorrectly helps me think about gratitude. | ● Larry Garber, 2023 Genesis 21:1-34 ● Lucy Steinitz 2025 Rosh Hashana Words |
| Rosh Hashanah Day 2 | ● Virginia Spatz, 1998 Worm-Hole Aliens, the Mikvah and the Akeda ● Virginia Spatz, 2009 “Look Behind You“: Akedah 5770 ● Allen Hirsh, 2012 A Modern Take on the Akedah – Genesis 22:1–19 | ● David Goldston, 2019 Akeda ● Debbie Goldman, 2023 Akeda |
| Yom Kippur | ● Debbie Goldman, 2000 Jonah ● Elaine Reuben z”l, 2001 The Book of Jonah: Again ● David Goldston, 2013 Yom Kippur Morning Drash Coming Up on September by Marge Piercy ● Rachel Braun, 2015 Vows and Power: Thoughts before Kol Nidre ● Rose Berstein, 2016 Today is Yom Kippur ● Lucy Steinitz, 2016 Imagine You are Jonah | ● Rachel Braun, 2019 Atonement when we’ve done right ●Eric Rosenthal, 2019 Jonah ● Lucy Steinitz, 2020 Forgiving Oneself ● David Goldston, 2020 Yom Kippur Morning Drash ● Toba Spitzer, 2023 With Uplifted Hearts: Our Building Project ● David Goldston, 2024 Kol Nidre Introduction ● Rick LaRue, 2024 Purge the Shrine – Yom Kippur, Morning Drash ● Zeke Emanuel, 2025 Yom Kippur Morning Drash |
| Sukkot | ● Virginia Spatz, 1999 Alone in the Sukkah ● David Goldston, 2011 Shabbat Kol Ha-Moed Sukkot ● David Goldston, 2020 D’rash for first day of Sukkot | ● Lisa Lang, 2024 Drash for Chol HaMo-eid Sukkot, Sukkot 5785 ● Dale Brown, 2025 Drash for Chol ha-Moed, Sukkot 5786 |
| Shemini Atzeret/Simhat Torah | ● Zahara Heckscher z”l, 2016 Simchat Torah |
|
Additional Commentaries
Midrash Meditations: This blog was written by Dale Lupu and Richard Gladstein from 2010 to 2014 – “We write these midrash meditations weekly to inspire our sitting group and chevrah (and ourselves). Our aim is to look carefully and closely at one detail in the weekly parsha. We contemplate it, asking what lessons it can teach us about living wisely, peacefully, compassionately, and joyfully.”
Tour of Torah: This blog by Fabrangener Rachel Braun has commentary on Torah and on tefillah (plus a little Purim Torah!). You may also enjoy exploring Rachel’s home site.
“A Song Every Day”: This blog by Virginia Spatz has more than a decade of Torah commentary, resource notes, discussion of Jewish philosophy and action, notes on Hebrew poetry, plus original midrash.