We can look at our fellow and just see their faults, or just see their strengths. The Torah enjoins us to see our fellow as golden.
Read the full story »
Acharei Mot, Uncategorized »
Devotion Can’t Be Selfish
This week’s Torah portion describes the intricate rituals of Yom Kippur. On this singular day, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies five times, the only occasion in the year when such entry was permitted.
The Torah introduces these instructions by recalling the tragic passing of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu. Why did they die? They entered the Holy of Holies unbidden, driven by a yearning to experience sublime closeness with G-d. Their intent was lofty, but they failed to wait for G-d’s summons. They went on their own initiative—and paid with their lives. Read the full story »
Post Passover Reflections: Linking The Past, Present, and Future
Passover is behind us. The question is: what lies ahead?
Yes, summer stretches out before us in all its glory (at least in this hemisphere). Plans must be made, pools opened, and the baseball season has returned. But none of that is really about Passover.
So what is?
What does Passover—now behind us—ask …
Healing the Great Divide
This week’s Torah portion speaks of the mysterious lesions that appeared on the skin of those who trafficked in gossip. Their punishment was at once severe and precise: they were cast into isolation for up to three weeks, until their affliction healed.
The Torah enumerates many forms of ritual impurity. Some …
A Matzah That Flips The Script
Just when you thought misery was bad, the Matzah teaches it can be a source of light.
What Made Moses the Redeemer?
What unique qualities did Moses have that convinced a nation of oppressed slaves that he was their redeemer?
Finding G-d in the Everyday
It is easy to find holiness in the miraculous and extraordinary. The Passover challenge is to find holiness in the ordinary, everyday moments.
Marinating In Divine Thoughts
The only way to build a home for G-d is to make space in our hearts for G-d. This means marinating in Divine thoughts..
Purim: G-d Pays His Debts
We often think life is unfair. It helps to look back on our lives and at history. We usually discover that G-d pays His debts. In the end, everything is fair.
Stones that Open A Heart
This week, we study the vestments worn by the High Priest as he performed his service in the Temple. The High Priest represents the epitome of holiness; he is the closest a human can be to G‑d. Selected to represent the entire nation in prayer, supplication, offering, and song to …
Parsha Insights »
Pekudei: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: The Famous Silver
Moses gave a full accounting for every ounce of copper and silver that was donated to the building of the Tabernacle. One Kikar (a measurement of Biblical origin) of silver was used to pour the foundations for the walls The thousand and the seven hundred and seventy-five …
Yearly Cycle »
New Year Greeting 5773
I wanted to write a Rosh Hashanah greeting and was casting about for a new spin, something that would make this year’s greeting stand out, when I realized that it’s not the greeting that should stand out, but the year.
Tweet
Concepts »
Yitro: Time for Torah
We all must make time for Torah, but how much time is a matter of perspective. When G-d gave us the Torah at Sinai, He gave the same Torah to all Jews. We are all bound by the same laws and we all share the same level of access to …
Rabbi’s Desk »
What Can We Do?
These past two days have been the most difficult for our people in the last fifty years. It was Simchat Torah, a time for rejoicing, yet it was a time of horror. Nearly a thousand members of our family were brutally murdered, more than a hundred were taken hostage, and …
