“There were no happier days for the people of Israel than the Fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur”. (Mishna, Ta’anit Chapter 4, 8) Today, Tu B’Av, the 15th day of … Continued
Parashat Va-etchanan (Deut. 3:23-7:11)
“You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor shall you subtract from it, to observe the commandments of Adonai, your God, that I command you.” (Deuteronomy … Continued
Parashat D’varim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22)
“Get, from each of your tribes, wise men, understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.” (Deuteronomy 1:13) Parashat D’varim reunites the Jewish people. … Continued
Parashat Mattot-Masei (Numbers 30:32-36:13)
“This shall be for you a decree of justice for your generations, in all your dwelling places.” (Numbers 35: 29) August 25, 2016 is the centennial anniversary of the Organic … Continued
Parashat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1)
“God said to Moses, ”Take to yourself Joshua, son of Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.” (Numbers 27:18) Parashat Pinchas is when … Continued
Parashat Balak (Numbers 22:2:5:9)
“It is God who brought them out of Egypt according to the power of his loftiness.” (Numbers 23:22) Parashat Balak combines high drama and farce: Balak, king of Moab, hires … Continued
Parashat Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1)
“When the entire assembly saw that Aaron had perished, they wept for Aaron thirty days, the entire house of Israel.” (Numbers 20:29) Parashat Chukat inspires a startling rabbinic statement about … Continued
Swifter than eagles, stronger than lions
The long sticky days and warm nights of summer seem longer than ever. Desert winds sweep away wilderness romance, carrying nothing but dust and dry air. However, a wonderful, blessed … Continued
Parashat Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32)
“Moses laid the staffs before God in the Tent of the Testimony.” (Numbers 17:22) Parashat Korach is perhaps the juiciest leadership parable in the Torah, but you have to dig … Continued
Parashat Sh’lach L’cha (Numbers 13:1-15:41)
“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, ‘Let us go up at once and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.’” (Numbers 13:30) Shlach L’cha … Continued