I’m Rabbi Ken Brodkin—welcome to Torah Journey. Explore this website for insights into the Torah, the Weekly Parsha, Jewish Holidays & Seasons and more!

Each insight here is designed with YOU in mind. While the wisdom of the Bible and Judaism are amazing, it’s not always easy to understand the Torah much less apply it to our modern lives.

My goal is to help you access, appreciate and apply the timeless wisdom of Judaism to your life. The posts here are meant to make you think—but they are also written to be understood. So please explore and enjoy these pieces, and remember, “life’s a journey, Torah’s a guide”.

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Are You Sitting?

by | February 17, 2020 | Holiday | 8 Comments

Unexpected challenges bring us to new vistas of self-discovery Last spring my wife, Aviel, was standing at the Kotel.  Suddenly, she felt like someone turned off a switch.  The world looked oddly dark.  Was something off with her sight?  Could it...
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Rise Up

by | January 28, 2020 | Holiday, Parsha, Va'Era | 0 Comments

A conversation between G-d and Moshe reveals a key to overcoming setbacks. We all face setbacks. They are an integral part of our journey. A tendency is to be discouraged. We often feel that a setback is evidence that the steps we took forward were misguided. After a...
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My Name Forever

by | January 24, 2020 | Holiday | 0 Comments

The conversation between G-d and Moshe at the burning bush is a conversation for the ages. It has deep implications for Jewish history – and for our own lives. If we pay attention to this conversation, we will have a key to dealing with the most difficult issues we...
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Is Masculinity Toxic?

by | January 14, 2020 | Posts, Vayechi | 0 Comments

A Torah Perspective When we reflect on Bereishit, some might say that we are looking at a Patriarchal world. A world in which fathers—men—define the family and the tribe. In truth, the Imahot were obviously pivotal in defining the family. Nevertheless, reflecting on...
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Lie to the Kids?

by | December 25, 2019 | Chanukah, Holiday | 0 Comments

A Chanukah Reflection  Ladies and gentlemen, Put on your Yarmulke, here comes Hanukah! Tell Veronica, Get out your Harmonica! As this SNL classic Jewish song reminds us, Chanukah is one of those times that all Jews connect to. But if we look at the Chag more...
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Is Divergence Destiny?

by | November 29, 2019 | Genesis, Kislev, Toldot | 0 Comments

This past week was Thanksgiving. It makes you think back to that original Thanksgiving dinner of Pilgrims and Indians. It is one of those moments in history I wish I could have seen. This small band of Pilgrims miraculously surviving the first winter with the aid of...
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She Was Sarah

by | November 22, 2019 | Chayei Sarah, Cheshvan, Genesis | 4 Comments

Last winter, I took a trip with my son Shaya to Phoenix to visit a Yeshiva.  It was a short day and a half trip with little time to do all we needed to accomplish.  Our flight was delayed and when we arrived, we were delayed at the car rental place for an...
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Avram the Ivri

by | November 14, 2019 | Cheshvan, Genesis, Lech Lecha | 0 Comments

For all you Mesopotamian history buffs, Genesis 14 is the chapter for you! We start to delve into the war of four kings versus the five kings, and there is just a wealth of trivia nuggets from the Euphrates to the Jordan Valley, from Ur Kasdim to Egypt! We have...
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The Genesis of Family

by | November 7, 2019 | Cheshvan, Genesis, Noach | 0 Comments

Recently, I came across an advertisement challenging religion. The ad depicted a person extending their hand to an individual in need, helping to lift them up. The ad remarked, “you don’t need G-d”. It went on to say, just be a person who helps others and...
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Finding Dawn

by | September 23, 2019 | Elul, Posts | 2 Comments

Did you ever have an experience where you up late in the darkness of night tossing and turning in anxiety? Perhaps about a financial problem or a conflict with your boss or co-worker? Then you wake up to the first rays of light.  Suddenly, your mind is fills...
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