Blog Vayikra 9 Adar ll 5779 בלוג וַיִּקְרָא, ט’ אדר ב’ תשע”ט The events of Vayikra (Leviticus) take place in the first month of the second year after leaving Egypt; the Hebrew people had almost lost their identity having been immersed in the pagan culture of Egypt and Moshe had to reintroduce them to the […]
Posts in category Blog
Are we Accountable?
Blog Pikudei Adar II 2nd 5779 בלוג פְקוּדֵי, ב’ אדר ב’ תשע”ט This portion Pikudei finishes the book of Exodus. Looking back, we see that Exodus began after the eleven brothers and their families moved to Egypt, the twelfth brother Joseph being there already. Together the brothers formed a nation that would flourish and be […]
Are We Part of the Community?
Blog Vayakhel Adar1 25 5779 בלוג וַיַּקְהֵל, כ”ה אדר א’ תשע”ט Parashat Vayakhel continues with the provision for and the building of the Mishkan. From Terumah to Vayakhel there is a resounding theme – the Shabbat! Why is the Shabbat so important? Simply put, it is the “glue” of the community. The Mishkan was to […]
We are All Responsible!
Blog Ki Tissa, Adar 1 18 5779 בלוג כִּי תִשָּׂא,י”ח אדר א’ תשע”ט The portion Ki Tissa begins with the half shekel being given equally by the rich and the poor. Why only half and not a whole shekel? The only way to be whole is to have the Presence of the Creator in us. […]
Is Your Light From Your Own Ego or Fr...
Blog Tetzaveh 11 Adar 1 5779 בלוג תצוה, י׳׳א אדר א׳ תשע׳ט These few portions from Mishpatim to Vayachel demonstrate the great love that the Creator has for His people. They serve to envelope the incident of the sin of the golden calf. Our sages blame the “erev rav” for their bad influence upon the […]
Giving is an Act of “Reason and Will”...
Blog Terumah Adar I 4 5779 בלוג תְּרוּמָה, ד’ אדר א’ תשע”ט Terumah begins with a call to Israel by the Creator through Moshe Rabenu: Ex 25:1-2 1 “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart makes […]
What is Taking Away Your Freedom?
Mishpatim Shevat 27th 5779 בלוג מִּשְׁפָּטִים, כ”ז שבט תשע’ Parashat Mishpatim continues the giving of the Torah in Yitro. I continue to remind you that Torah is not chronological, “there is no earlier or later in the Torah” – אין מקדן ומאחר בתורה, rather it is pedagogical – teaching. The Ten Commandments speak to the […]
The Value of the Ten Commandments.
Blog Yitro Shevat 20 5779 בלוג יִתְרוֹ,כ’ שבט תשע”ט This parashah Yitro contains the essence of the entire Scriptures, the Ten Commandments. The Creator’s revelation was given to the people of Israel together with the “erev rav” in our midst, the mixed multitude. Where did He give it to the people? In Jerusalem, Israel? NO, […]
Do not expect God to do what you can ...
Blog Beshalach Shevat 13 5779 בלוג בְּשַׁלַּח, י”ג שבט תשע”ט Our sages have questioned whether or not we humans have bechirah chofshit, free will because this portion Beshalach says that the Creator hardened the heart of Pharaoh although the word actually means strengthened. Pharaoh became more and more confident in his resolve, pointing to […]
“Ad Matai”, עַד-מָתַי – “Until ...
Blog Bo Shevat 6 5779 בלוג בֹּא, ו’ שבט תשע”ט Bo means “come”, not “go”. With this simple word the Creator was letting Moshe know that He would go with him to Pharaoh. It’s a beautiful picture for us to see that we are never alone. It is not in my interest to compare religions; […]