Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein

Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein serves Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, VA and teaches Introduction to Judaism courses for the Union for Reform Judaism in the Washington, D.C. area. She wrote some of the study guides for The Torah: A Women’s Commentary.

Parshat Chayei Sarah

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein
PARASHAT CHAYEI SARAH STUDY GUIDE THEMES Theme 1: The Aftermath of Sarah’s Death—Land and Mourning Theme 2: Ensuring the Continuity of the Covenant—Finding the Right Wife for Isaac INTRODUCTION In Parashat Chayei Sarah, Abraham begins to secure God’s promises of offspring and land.
Chayei Sarah

Parashat Yitro

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein
Parashat Yitro Study Guide Themes Theme 1: A Divine Proposal—Israel Prepares to Receive the Covenant Theme 2: After Israel Says, “We Do”—Stipulations of the Covenant INTRODUCTION Parashat Yitro describes the encounter between God and Israel at Mount Sinai that results in an exclusive relationship between God and Israel, sealed by
Yitro

Parashat Bo

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein
Parashat Bo Study Guide Themes Theme 1: Israel’s God Reigns Supreme Theme 2: The Obligation to Remember—Marking the Exodus in and after Egypt INTRODUCTION Parashat Bo contains the last three of the ten divine acts designed to persuade a reluctant Pharaoh to release his Israelite slaves.
Bo

Parashat Vayechi

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein
Parashat Vayechi Study Guide Themes Theme 1: Jacob Prepares for Death—Ensuring Legacy through Blessing Theme 2: Jacob’s Burial Instructions—Ensuring Legacy through Place INTRODUCTION Parashat Vayechi , the last parashah in Genesis, marks the end of the stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs and foreshadows the Exodus narrative of slavery and
Vayechi

Parashat T’rumah

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein
Parashat T’rumah Study Guide Themes Theme 1: Divine Architecture: Designing an Earthly Meeting Place for God and Israel Theme 2: It Takes a Community: Team-Building God’s Earthly Residence INTRODUCTION The divine presence is everywhere as the Israelites begin the forty-year journey in the wilderness from which they will emerge as
T'rumah