One of the many stories in Bereshit is that of Adam and Eve. In particular it is the shame that Adam and Eve experience upon eating the forbidden fruit. Rabbi Manis Friedman, co-author of “Living a Life that Matters” relates Adam and Eve’s emotional response to these three aspects of shame: 1) humility, embarrassment and […]
Today’s Torah portion tells the story of Korah the cousin of Moses and Aaron who questions the ‘spirtual leadership’ of the Israelites. Moses defends the divine appointment of Aaron as Kohen Gadol and clarifies the wearing of Tallit.
Like Moses, Korah was a Levite and born in Egypt and a witness to the miracles of the […]
In this weeks parasha Shelach (which means to send, send to you, send for yourself) God commands Moses to send 12 men (SPIES) – to check out the promised land before the Israelites enter the land.
As we find out the expedition was less than remarkable for 10 of the ‘SPIES’ – perhaps due to a […]
Picture this – you are Moses (for the moment) you know the prophetic leader of the Israelites who was blessed with a stutter (or so we have read in Exodus). Also consider – that you have just received a directive from G-d to ‘get the word out’ about the recently published laws or ‘commandments’ and […]
Of the messages in this week’s Parasha (which is the parasha that is located actually in the very center of the entire Torah), Acharei Mot literally means, ‘After the Death’ in reference to the deaths of Aaron’s sons Nadav & Avihu.
It is said that after one hears the title of the Parasha the intent […]
Parshah Tzav begins with priestly instructions for sacrifices as a sanctification and ritual to spiritually connect with G-d. Details with what to wear, time of day and who can consume the sacrifice are outlined. The parshah includes instructions for kosher eating and sanctification of priests.
As Rabbi Eve Posen points out in a 2020 message to […]
The focus of Parsha Mishpatim is a fresh start and new direction where commandments are first presented in the Torah to the Israelites. The story goes that G-d tells Moses what he needs to present to the Israelites though he does not tell Moses how he needs to communicate these laws.Why the need for a […]
Today’s Parasha is supposedly the least dramatic and emotional of many Torah stories. Personally I kinda think that Bamidbar (you know the one where the tribes are counted) is not so exciting either. So rather than look for drama in this parasha over the deaths of Jacob and Joseph, or Jacob’s blessing of Ephriam & […]
“Change isn’t made by asking permission. Change is made by asking forgiveness, later” Seth Godin
As in past years, this week’s Parsha for me is all about forgiveness and loving ones-self. It starts with Judah, with all of his brothers present, who pleads with the viceroy of Egypt, that his brother Benjamin be set free after […]
In today’s Parasha Moses describes the commandments of oaths and vows in ongoing oral law; the Israelites battle the Midianites; the tribes of Reuben and Gad negotiate with Moses to allow their people to dwell outside of the Land of Israel for the sake of their livestock and their families. In fact, Moses tells the […]
