“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”  ― Abraham Lincoln In perashat Shelah we find our ancestors standing upon the threshold of

“I will insist the Hebrews have

Bemidbar 5774: Whole in One The book of Bemidbar describes the desert sojourns of the nation of Israel upon leaving Mount Sinai. In these travels, the nation no longer congregates

Behukotai is not an easy parasha to read. There is the obvious reason — its graphic presentation of harrowing events that a disobedient Jewish people might suffer — but even

Behar 5774: At Your Service “For the Children of Israel are servants unto Me; they are My servants…I am the Lord Your G-d.” (25:55) Years ago, when I first studied this

Emor 5774: Do As I Say Not As They Do Our environment affects us profoundly. We are social animals who are strongly influenced by the actions and behaviors of those

Kedoshim 5774: Sacred Singularity There is a delightful scene in Disney’s “Mary Poppins” in which Bert, played by Dick Van Dyke, is making colorful chalk drawings on the London pavement.

This year’s Torah reading for Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Pesah, seems particularly misfit for the occasion. It has us opening Passover with a detailed description of Yom Kippur! This

Metsora 5774: Masters of the Mind In Perashat Metsora we continue to read of the unusual forms of the condition of sara’at. This week, however, we begin to address the

Tazria-HaHodesh 5774: Alone Time Human beings have always sought ways to connect with each other. We are social animals who have a vital need for interaction. Today, we are more