The Hope And Promise Of Prophecy
Moshe wasn't the last of the prophets. How would Israel discern his true successors from the false?
Greatness Is Humility
Three moments, sharing the same message, made a deep impression on me: Greatness is humility.
The Poet And Mystic Vs. The Philosopher
Amongst the greatest disagreements in Judaism is the understanding of the 1st of the 10 Commandments
The Prophets’ Influence
"When a king dies his power ends; when a prophet dies his influence begins" & their words echo today
The Lighting Of Candles
Sharing influence is like lighting a candle with another: it doesn't mean having less; you have more
Dwelling Alone And Beating The Odds
All agree that Jews ARE different. How? Why? The Bible's answer is surprising and profound.
The Need For Chukkim
Of Chukkim “Satan and the nations of the world made fun.” They may appear irrational & superstitious
True Conflict Resolution
Heaven answered Moshe dramatically. He was proved right. End of revolt. End of story- Not at all...
The Hidden Spirituality Of Tzitzit
There's no obligation TO wear tzitzit; opting to wear them symbolizes free acceptance of the mitzvot
The Covenants Of Fate And Destiny
Sadly, we're no longer an edah; We've fissured and fractured: Orthodox & Reform; religious & secular
The Proper Use Of Power
This week's parshah inspired the Jubilee 2000 initiative leading to debt cancellation of $34 biilion
Blood, Idolatry, Or War
Rambam: Eating blood's forbidden because connected to idolatry;Ramban: We're affected by what we eat
The Sin Offering
Why should unintentional sins require atonement? What guilt exists when requisite intent is lacking?
The Space We Create For G-d
Like Shabbat points to something beyond time, the people Israel points to something beyond history
The Sabbath: First Or Last Day?
The Sabbath is a full dress rehearsal for an ideal society that has not yet come to pass-but will
Whose Footsteps Do We Follow When We Pray?
Jewish prayer is a convergence of 2 modes of biblical spirituality, exemplified by Moses and Aaron
A Portable Home
With the synagogue, "Judaism created one of the greatest revolutions in the history of religion"
The Universality Of Wisdom
By wisdom, we come to understand G-d via creation; By Torah we understand G-d through His revelation
The Role Of Time In Social Transformation
Torah opposes slavery; G-d desires the free worship of free human beings, yet slavery's permitted-?!
The Ninth Plague Shrouded In A Darkness Of Its Own
Pharaoh perverted symbols of life (the Nile and midwives) into agents of death.
The Cup Of Hope
The 5th cup is supported by a 5th expression of Deliverance: “And I will bring you to the land..."
Civil Disobedience
The first recorded instance of civil disobedience is the story of Shifra and Puah, defying Pharaoh
The White Lie
Truthfulness is a fundamental value in Jewish yet truth isn't its highest value. Peace is. Why so?
Generations Forget And Remember
Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh had nothing to do with age and everything to do with names
A Tale Of Two Women
Tamar’s conduct bears an uncanny resemblance to Ruth's; virtuous outsiders at the margins of society