Bechukotai 5760-2000
"The Big 'If': Reflection of Free Choice"
The little word "im"--"if," that begins the verse, "If you follow my decrees" is a critical word for all of humankind. It implies that all human beings have a very special gift from G-d-- freedom to choose. Our Torah does not speak of predestination, it speaks of choice. Even the Hebrew word "Emunah," faith, begins in Hebrew with the same letters as im, implying choice.
0 Comments8 Minutes
Behar 5760-2000
"Wronging One Another The Torah's Unique View Point"
Jewish law maintains that especially vulnerable people must be protected from abuse. Therefore, one is forbidden to say even truthful things that are hurtful to others. The Torah provides many remarkable insights and directives that are intended to help people and society become more sensitive to one another.
0 Comments9 Minutes
Yom Ha’atzmaut 5760-2000
"Being Judged by a Different Yardstick"
While it's difficult for the Jewish people to endure the indignities that have been visited upon us by the nations of the world, we may still hold our heads up high. We may be proud of the fact that the nations of the world judge us by a different yardstick, expecting more of the Jewish people. Woe to the day when the world thinks that Jews should follow the moral principles of the rest of the world. We must be held to a higher standard, otherwise, we lose our uniqueness.
0 Comments14 Minutes
Kedoshim 5760 – 2000
"The Revolutionary Idea of Holiness"
In parashat Kedoshim we learn much about the magical and revolutionary idea that the Torah introduced into civilization-- the concept of "holiness." As the Torah says, "You shall be holy for I the L-rd your G-d am holy." Unless one subscribes to the belief that every human is holy and a reflection of the Divine, there is really no limit to the extent of depravity and immorality to which humans may sink.
0 Comments9 Minutes
Acharei Mot 5760-2000
"The Forbidden Relationships Work Both Ways"
Parashat Acharei Mot lists, in a very forceful manner, the rules and regulations regarding immoral and forbidden sexual relationships. It is this text that is read publicly at the afternoon Yom Kippur service in order to remind the Jewish people of proper moral conduct. However, it is also perhaps a reminder to G-d that just as He expects His people to be loyal to Him, so must He be loyal to His people and not exchange us for any other people.
0 Comments6 Minutes
Passover 5760-2000
"The Passover Seder--Focus on the Children"
Even before the enslavement of the Jews began, Pharaoh instructed the midwives to kill all newborn Jewish babies. The Midrash goes further, asserting that Pharaoh's disproportionate hatred of Jewish children led him to try to remedy his leprosy affliction by bathing in the blood of Jewish children. On Passover night, every Jew is a child, and every Jew becomes a parent, to underscore the importance of nurturing the next generation.
0 Comments9 Minutes
Metzorah 5760-2000
"The Ultimate Value and Sanctity of Human Life in Judaism"
Not only a menstruant woman, but also a man who has had emissions was rendered ritually impure in ancient times. These complex laws of emissions and purification that seem so crude at first blush are truly enlightened. They come to teach the sanctity of human life and its ultimate value in Judaism.
0 Comments10 Minutes
Tazria 5760-2000
"Death and Life are In the 'Hands' of the Tongue!"
We tend to dismiss the power of the tongue, and yet it has the ability to give life and to take life.
0 Comments8 Minutes
Shemini 5760 – 2000
"Substance Abuse in Judaism"
The severe punishment meted out to the sons of Aaron leaves us with a powerful reason to carefully study the Jewish attitude towards intoxicants and drugs. Alcoholism and drug abuse is serious business, not something that can be ignored. Wine is a divine gift, and plays a key role in Judaism. Yet, we need to make certain that it is treated as a special gift and imbibed with respect.
0 Comments10 Minutes
Tzav-Purim 5760 – 2000
"Remembering Amalek: A Contemporary View"
Jewish tradition looks upon those who seek to destroy the Jewish people as the heirs of the ancient Amalekites, the fierce nation that was the first to attack the people of Israel, especially the elderly, weak and the young after the exodus from Egypt. While remembering Amalek is important, rebuilding and guaranteeing the Jewish future is far more important.
0 Comments13 Minutes
Vayikra 5760 – 2000
"Thanking G-d for the Good"
For mortals, it's not easy to maintain a sense of gratitude for the constant miracles that are part of our everyday existence. The Sh'lamim, the Peace Offering, enables us to express our gratitude to G-d at all times, and not just to cry out and denounce G-d when things are wrong or uncomfortable. It's easy to complain about the bad; it's far more difficult to say "Thank You" for the good.
0 Comments11 Minutes
Pekudei 5760-2000
"Honesty and Integrity in Public Life"
In parashat Pekudai, the Torah portion provides an exact accounting of the amount of gold, silver, and copper that was contributed to the construction of the Tabernacle. Honesty and integrity play a major role in the Jewish religion. Leaders especially, who are meant to serve as role models for the rest of the community, are expected to live up to the highest standards.
0 Comments8 Minutes
Vayakhel 5760-2000
"Jewish Women and Jewish Destiny"
We are told in parashat Vayakhel that the Jewish women responded immediately to the appeals that were made by Moses for gold for building the Tabernacle, removing their precious jewelry and rushing them to the Tabernacle. This was only one of the many heroic actions that the women of Israel performed. The key role that the women of Israel played in the redemption of the people of Israel is confirmed by the remarkable rabbinic statement asserting that only in the merit of the righteous women, were our ancestors redeemed from Egypt. It is quite likely that this is true not only of the generation of Egypt, but in all subsequent generations as well.
0 Comments15 Minutes
Kee Tisah 5760-2000
"The 'Vengeful' G-d"
The last of the so-called 13 attributes of G-d's mercy is that G-d does not entirely cleanse sinners and that He may be vengeful. If we are expected to imitate G-d, then perhaps we should be vengeful as well?
0 Comments11 Minutes
Tetzaveh 5760-2000
"Clothes: A Reflection of the Divine Image"
Clothes play an important role in Judaism and in Jewish tradition. After all, the Al-mighty was the first designer of clothes for Adam and Eve. The clothes that the priests wore not only invested them with sanctity, but also represented the values that the priests were trying to communicate to the people.
0 Comments10 Minutes
Terumah-Purim 5760-2000
"The Mishkan: Underscoring the Centrality of the Home in Jewish Life"
The Mishkan--the Tabernacle--is very much like a home, and has all the furnishings that are found in a home. The fact that our synagogue is called a Beit Kinesset, a house of coming together, underscores the importance of the home. Unless our homes serve as dwelling places for G-d, there will be little chance that our religion will be effectively communicated in our synagogues or in our temples.
0 Comments13 Minutes
Mishpatim 5760-2000
"From Seemingly Obscure Laws, the Torah Teaches the Ultimate Value of the Sanctity of Human Life"
Why should an ox that gored and killed a person be put to death? 3,300 years ago the Torah taught the world about the ultimate value of human life. These values are reflected in this statute as well.
0 Comments10 Minutes
Yitro 5760-2000
"An Encounter with Jethro and the Non-Jewish World"
3,300 years ago, when xenophobia reigned supreme throughout the ancient world, the Torah admonished Jews not to reject sage advice simply because it emanates from a non-Jewish source. In fact, Jews are encouraged to look for good and healthy ideas anywhere in the world, Jewish and secular, and embrace those ideas with open arms.
0 Comments10 Minutes
B’shalach 5760-2000
"The Shira: Source of all Song"
According to Jewish tradition, all song emanates from the purity and devotion of the song that the people of Israel sang over three thousand years ago at the crossing of the Red Sea.
0 Comments8 Minutes
Bo 5760-2000
"Rational Love and Emotional Love: A Lesson From Tefillin"
From the ritual of tefillin we learn that there is both "rational love" and "emotional love," a love of the mind and a love of the heart. While both these loves are important, in Judaism emotional love trumps rational love.
0 Comments10 Minutes
Va’eira 5760-2000
"G-d Hardens Pharaoh's Heart: Reconciling Omniscience and Free Will"
Our commentators struggle over G-d's statement to Moses: "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart." Does this imply that G-d has taken away Pharaoh's free will? Among the host of responses offered by the commentators is that Pharaoh hardened his own heart during the first 5 plagues, and was punished by G-d hardening Pharaoh's heart during the last 5 plagues. Many of the responses given by the commentators to this issue are quite insightful and resourceful. They must be studied carefully in order to appreciate them fully.
0 Comments7 Minutes
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