“And the Lord said to Aaron…I am your portion and your share among the Israelites.” (Numbers 18:20) An old joke says there are two types of people: those who divide … Continued
Pluralism, acceptance, love and hope
“As a Jew I am aware of how important the existence of Israel is for the survival of us all. And because I am proud of being Jewish, I am … Continued
Parashat Sh’lach L’cha (Numbers 13:1-15:41)
“They went up and scouted the land, from the wilderness of Zin to Rechov, at Levo Chamat.” (Numbers 13:21) Sh’lach L’cha is a fateful parasha (portion). God tells Moses, “Sh’lach … Continued
Parashat B’ha-alot’cha (Numbers 8:1-12:16)
“Aaron did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of the menorah, as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Numbers 8:3) Parashat B’ha-a lot’cha describes the Israelites’ departure from Mt. … Continued
Parashat Naso (Numbers 4:21-7:89)
“The Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace.” (Numbers 6:26) Yehuda Kurtzer (president of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America) likes to say ancient texts are … Continued
Parashat Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20)
“Those are the elected of the assembly, the chieftains of their ancestral tribes: they are the heads of the contingents of Israel.” (Numbers 1:16) Parashat Bamidbar opens the fourth book … Continued
Parashat B’har-B’chukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)
“I will remember in their favor the covenant with the ancients, whom I freed from the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God; I, … Continued
The Beauty of Jerusalem
The Talmud teaches, “Ten measures of beauty descended on the world, nine were taken by Jerusalem, one by the rest of the world.” Years later, Mark Twain said, “There is … Continued
Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23)
“So Moses declared to the Israelites the set times of the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:44) Parashat Emor addresses issues of k’dusha, or sanctity. It focusses first on the priests (sanctified people) … Continued
Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)
“You shall not render an unfair decision: do not favor the poor or show deference to the rich; judge your kinsman fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15) We read two parashot (portions) this … Continued