Articles Parsha Thoughts

Parshat Bamidbar is, on its surface, little more that names and numbers. The bulk of the parsha lists the counting of the Jewish people,…

The ability of the Jewish people to see hope when others see despair is perhaps the key to understanding the amazing tenacity of the Jewish people.…

  When one thinks of the most important parts of the Torah one is likely to think of the aseret hadibrot, the shema or…

Knowledge is much more than the accumulation of facts. It is the analysis and application of those facts that is crucial. Underlying factual…

Perhaps there is no parsha less studied than Tazria (and its frequent partner, Metzora). With its focus on the detailed laws of …

Modern society often expects people to keep their emotions in check and to avoid displaying them publicly. This is especially true of our leaders…

When making reference to biblical verses, we tend to identify them by chapter and verse. This most convenient system is of non-Jewish origin and…

“In the first month of the second year on the first of the month, the Tabernacle was erected” (Shemot 40:2). Sefer Shemot concludes with…

The mark of a great leader is the ability to inspire others—even in their absence. A great company operates at peak efficiency even when the CEO is…

One of the key ways by which groups self-identify is through the medium of clothes. Almost all religions have some form of dress code or …

It is common after a major event to have difficulty getting back into our daily routine. Whether it is a child's wedding, an exotic vacation or a…

In the Western world, the number ten represents perfection. Not surprisingly, this concept seems to be rooted in our biblical tradition. “In…

The problem of theodicy—why there is evil in this world—has bothered thinking people from time immemorial. We cannot answer Moshe’s…

In the non-egalitarian society of the Bible, it was evident that the bechor, the firstborn—being the one designated to carry on the legacy…

One hundred and thirty seven is not a number that would appear to have much significance, at least not from a Jewish perspective. Yet the Torah found…

In today's world of the 30-second soundbite, good oratory skills are a necessary ingredient for any aspiring politician. Good politicians…

Sefer Breisheet begins with the grandeur of creation, detailing the many new life forms, and with great hope for the human race. This hope was to be…

Hugs, kisses, joy and forgiveness. So appears the reunion of Yosef and his family after twenty-two long years. “Don’t be sad nor reproach…