Ellen Dannin
Ellen Dannin, a thought leader on labor and privitization, has taught and written primarily about American and New Zealand labor and employment law. She also writes about privatization of government services and public infrastructure. Her most recent law school position was as the Fannie Weiss Distinguished Faculty Scholar and professor of law at Penn State Dickinson School of Law. She is a former member of the Ann Arbor Havurah, Dor Hadash in San Diego, and Congregation T’chiyah in Detroit.
Blood
While Jewish dietary law forbids the consumption of blood, Ellen Dannin suspects that the Torah’s message goes deeper than the rareness of a steak.
Tamar the Hidden
Delving into the story of Tamar’s deception of Judah, Ellen Dannin explores the power she exercises in calling a powerful man to moral accountability.
Connecting the Dots
Jacob and Esau, estranged for years, reach reconciliation in Parashat Vayishlakh. But as Ellen Dannin notes, Jacob’s fearful nature renders this healing tragically incomplete.
Isaac, Digger of Wells
Isaac’s life repeats many of the events that marked his father’s life. Was he stuck in rut? Or was his redigging of his father’s wells fruitful?
Avraham, Happiness, and God's Open Hand
Our lives are filled with both blessings and hardships. Ellen Dannin suggests Avraham’s approach as a model for making sense of this tension.
Tamar and Judah
The Joseph story is interrupted by the brief but portentious episode of Tamar and Judah.
Drawing Close to Sacrifice
What would it mean to approach the difficult passages of Leviticus by embracing them, rather than explaining them away? Ellen Dannin investigates.
Why Be Good?
Examining Moses' lifelong struggles to lead the Israelites, Ellen Dannin explores his inner motivations. Why be good if not motivated by a reward?
The Dress of the High Priest
Just weeks after the dramatic exodus from Egypt, we find ourselves reading about the High Priest's luxurious garments: the ultimate power suit?
Living the Good Life
What is the Jewish view of “living the good life”? Ellen Dannin explores the lessons of Parashat Ekev.
Moses Died With A Promised Land
In Moses's imperfections, Ellen Dannin sees not a tragically fallen leader, but an almost perfect example of humanity.
Filling the Earth with God's Presence
“Holy, holy, holy! All the earth is filled with the presence of the Lord of Hosts.” Or it could be, if we made room for that presence. Making room for God is a task set for us by all of Jewish teaching, and it is one whose details are included in Parashat Mishpatim.
Future Prayer
Isaiah’s words to us on Yom Kippur call us to action.
Our Akeidah, Our Binding
A reflection on the Akeidah—the Binding of Isaac. Has our society really moved past sacrificing our children to contemporary idols?