­

Parashat Chukat 5784 -Close, But No Cigar

The phrase ‘Close, but No Cigar’ is used to indicate that you have fallen just short of a successful outcome and have received no reward for your efforts. How does that apply to today’s parshah?

No one has been as influential over the history of the Jewish people than Moses – the man who confronted Pharaoh, […]

Parashat Behar 5784 – Tzedaka and Charity: Are They the Same?

It says in Parsha Behar that the land shall have a Sabbath every 7th year. It shall be a complete year of rest for the land. The 50th year shall be sacred, and it shall be a jubilee year. God also says: “The land must not be sold in perpetuity for the land is mine.” […]

Parashat Shemini 5784 – Am I a Bad Jew

Traditional Jews observe the dietary laws derived mostly from today’s Parsha, Shemini. Thousands of years before the 19th century saying, “You are what you eat” came into being, Judaism recognized the essential significance of food in the Jewish and human experience. Originally, without explaining why we should eat some but not all types of food, […]

Parashat Ki Tissa 5784

Summary: In Ki Tissa, we read about Moses descending from the mountain with the tablets only to find the people celebrating the Golden Calf which they built in his absence. In his anger, Moses smashes the tablets, and he chastises the people; he then pleads with God to forgive the people and ascends the mountain […]

Parashat Pekudei 5784 – Do Colors Matter?

In this parshah there is mention of many colors as required for mishkan, the tabernacle, the altar, the Torah covers, and their garments.

Sash of linen in turquoise, purple and scarlet wool, of an embroiderer’s craft.

Robe’s hem they made with pomegranate design of turquoise, purple and scarlet wool, twisted.

They made bells of pure gold amid the […]

Parashat Terumah 5784 – Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Helen Keller said: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Andrew Carnegie said: “Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” I think we can all agree with these statements. Both apply to today’s parshah. In parshah Terumah, God says to Moses,”They shall make for me […]

Parashat Bo 5784

This weeks Parshat Bo explains how Moses was told by God to tell the Pharaoh that if he doesn’t let his people go, he will bring the 8th plague of locusts to swarm the land.

Pharaoh urged his staff to let the Hebrews go but Pharaoh would only let the men go and not the […]

Parashat Va’era 5784 – Overcoming Self-Doubt

Self-doubt can be defined as a lack of confidence in oneself and one’s abilities. It could be about our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, opinions, decisions, and self-views, or any truth we hold in our minds. Researchers suggest that self-doubt specifically involves questioning our own competence.

In this week’s parshah, God tells Moses that he wants Moses to […]

Parashat Shemot

In Parshah Shemot, we learn about Moses and the burning bush, which is a significant event in the life of Moses and the beginning of his mission to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. When Moses sees the burning bush, he approaches it and hears the voice of G-d calling out to him. G-d […]

Parashat Vayechi – The Blessing of Remembering

I am in the midst of a project at home. I’m making a written record of my most treasured belongings – few in number though they may be – and deciding on what is to become of them when I die. For those of you know me, the details I’ve included in these files would […]