On Being A Jewish Parent
The most influential man who ever lived, does not appear on any list I have seen of the hundred most influential men in history. He ruled no empire, commanded no army, His name, of course, is Abraham
The Universality Of Sukkot
Sukkot is the most universalistic of all festivals. At the same time, however, it is the most particularist of festivals. When we sit in the sukkah, we recall Jewish history
Sukkot For Our Time
The heart of Sukkot is to know that life is full of risk and yet to affirm it, to sense the full insecurity of the human situation and yet to rejoice in it. Chag Sameach!
To Renew Our Days
The last two commands of the Torah, mentioned in this week's parsha-Hakhel and the command to write, or at take part in writing, a Sefer Torah-are about renewal, first collective, then individual.
We Are What We Remember
We are what we remember, and the first-fruits declaration was a way of ensuring that Jews would never forget.
The Limits Of Love
The opening three laws of this parsha- a captive woman taken in war, the law about the rights of the firstborn, and the “stubborn and rebellious son” – are all about dysfunctions within the family.
Pursuing Justice
Judaism is a religion of compassion, for without compassion law itself can generate inequity. Justice plus compassion equals tzedek, the first precondition of a decent society.
The Deep Power Of Joy
In Judaism, joy is the supreme religious emotion. Moses says again and again that joy is what we should feel in the land of Israel, the land given to us by God.
The Spirituality Of Listening
There is something profoundly spiritual about listening-shema. It is the most effective form of conflict resolution I know.
The Power Of Why
Most people talk about what. Some people talk about how. Great leaders, though, start with why. This is what makes them transformative.
To 120: Growing Old, Staying Young
There is something moving about seeing Moses, at almost 120, looking forward as well as back, sharing his wisdom with the young, teaching us that while the body may age, the spirit can stay young
What Makes God Laugh
Pagan prophets like Bilam had not yet learned the lesson we must all one day learn: What matters is not that God does what we want, but that we do what He wants.
Look At The Accuser, Not The Accused
If you seek to understand an accusation, look at the accuser, not the accused. That is the key to the Korach affair and to understanding anti-Semitism.
Expanding Freedom
Despite the Divine anger, the people were not condemned to permanent exile. They simply had to face the fact that their children would achieve what they themselves were not ready for.
Longing To Be A Saint
According to Maimonides there is not one model of the virtuous life, but two. He calls them, respectively, the way of the saint (chassid) and the sage (chacham).
Eternal Israel
Without belief in the covenant, there would be no State of Israel or any significant Jewish history after the Holocaust. Jews kept hope alive; Hope kept the Jewish people alive.
Free Worship
What is the difference between philosophy and the political vision at the heart of Tanach? The answer lies in their different understandings of time.
Sukkot’s Uniqueness
In a way not shared by any other festival, Sukkot celebrates the dual nature of Jewish faith: the universality of G-d and the particularity of Jewish existence.
In Search Of Jewish Identity
As Jews became defined by religion, Christians could work to convert them--You can change your religion but you cannot change your race
The Power Of Shame
Social media brought about a return to an ancient phenomenon, public shaming providing us a way of understanding the otherwise bewildering phenomenon of tsara’at,
The Sign Of The Covenant
The sedrah of Tazria begins with the law of circumcision Why this physical mark on the flesh? What does it tell us about the nature of Jewish identity?
To Eat, Or Not To Eat
What is the logic of kashrut? And why are they placed here in parshat Shemini? AND what is their connection with the sanctuary?
Understanding Sacrifice
What was sacrifice in Judaism and why does it remain important, at least as an idea, even today?
On The Move
Like our bodies, our souls were not made for sitting still. We were made for moving, learning, searching, striving, growing
The Sabbath: First Or Last Day?
For G-d, the Sabbath was the last day of the week; for human beings, it was the first.