Yom Kippur 5770-2009
"Shabbat Shabbaton--The Ultimate Shabbat"
When does true creativity occur? Jewish tradition maintains that introspection and contemplation are essential to creativity. When G-d rested on the Sabbath day, He not only ceased working, but stopped to evaluate His creation. Contemplation, therefore, is the purpose of Yom Kippur as well, the "Shabbat Shabbaton," the Ultimate Shabbat.
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B’ha’alot’cha 5767-2007
"The Tribe of Dan Traveled Last"
In parashat B'ha'alot'cha we learn that the tribe of Dan served as the "ma'ah'sayf," the rear guard, of all the twelve tribes when they traveled in the wilderness. According to the commentators, the Danites gathered up items lost by other tribes as well as stragglers who fell behind. Nevertheless, despite this promising beginning, the destiny of the tribe of Dan was to become a tribe of idolaters and sinners, who were eventually exiled together with the ten lost tribes. How did the tribe of Dan, with such a noble beginning, have such a sad and ignoble conclusion?
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