I recently attended a healthcare conference in Washington, DC. It was the first time back in my hometown in many years. No surprise, much has changed. But perhaps more unexpectedly, I was both surprised and inspired by how much had remained the same, and how much of our Jewish history and teachings formed the fabric of the USA. It is worth repeating Ben Shapiro’s famous admonition to Bill Maher (and I am paraphrasing): before you congratulate yourself on hitting a triple of enlightenment, freedom, and democracy, you should acknowledge that “you were born on third base.” Like his rhetorical style and political leanings or not, I don’t think anyone can deny the quick wit and sharp skills that have made Ben Shapiro one of the most skilled and perceptive debaters of our time.

I was reminded of that exchange this weekend as I was asked to give a dvar Torah for this past Shabbat’s parashah. A request I find myself frequently humbled by, especially in the presence of others who are infinitely more qualified with rabbinical and formal biblical training than I am. Nevertheless, in my own tiny fragment of the world, I have taken to making this a regular part of my weekly routine and providing what small contribution I can as a “modern thinker” with a background in science, medicine, and, more recently, the world of high-tech/healthtech. My contributions to the discussion as part of the weekly shiur we have in my small community drive me to a renewed source of inspiration and motivation as I prepare for my contribution to the discussion.

I make no secret of the fact that I draw much of my discussion from the brilliant works of the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. His writing is always........

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