Charles van Heck's Woodhull Journal

Torah

  • Freedom and Responsibility: What is Asked of Us

    Our Jewish life is both a personal and a communal journey towards Mount Sinai in freedom, and then with a conscious commitment of responsibility moving into the world to bear witness to the blessing of a meaningful life—one of respect… Continue reading

  • Two Voices, Different Moralities and the Choices We Make

    What do we mean by “the right and the good?” How should one differentiate between the two? How we answer these questions has broad implications for our lives, whether we are Jewish, Christian, or secular in our values. Continue reading

  • Chanukkah and Advent: Dialogue and Hate in the Trumpian Age

    Mixing Apples and oranges (or pomegranates). Readers may think I have been doing just that in these reflections on Advent and Chanukkah. Jews and Christians have distinct faiths and teachings. I firmly believe in ecumenical dialogue. Dialogue, to reach an… Continue reading

  • Dreams and Expectations

    Tomorrow morning, I will be giving the D’var Torah (a sermon) on Genesis chapters 25:19-28:9. I am honored to have been asked. Below is the text. Derasha: Tol’dot, 22 November 2025 The words of the Torah are like fragments of… Continue reading

  • THE SALT OF INDIVIDUAL ACTION:

    PART THREE: THE POSSIBILITY OF ANSWERS THE SYNAGOGUE, THE CHURCH, AND THE MOSQUE I am a proponent of ecumenical dialogue. In the past, I participated in meetings, assisted others in preparing their conferences talks, and taught in various denominational settings.… Continue reading

  • RANDOM THOUGHTS ON FRIENDSHIP: A REFLECTION IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY

    A friend recently suggested to my wife that I post blogs regularly or risk losing readership. His advice is sound. Three blogs have been researched and roughly drafted. My thoughts, however, have been with mi amiga de combate. We have… Continue reading