Our holidays form natural units, as none truly stand alone. The 49 days of the omer link…

Va'etchanan: from Egypt to Israel
“Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the laws and rules that I…

Tisha B'Av: Before the Law
“Rav Yochanan said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because they followed the laws of the Torah” (Bava…

Devarim: A Man of Words
“Moshe said to the Lord, "I beseech You, O Lord. Lo ish devarim anochi, I am not a man of words,…

Mattot: The Land of Our People
“And a lot of livestock did the children of the Reuven and Gad have and they saw the Ya’azer, and…

Pinchas: A Leader for All
While it is undoubtedly true that people get the leaders they deserve, it is also true that great…

Chukat: Miriam the First
“And the Jewish people, the entire congregation, came to Midbar Zin in the first month, and…

Korach: Give Me a Friend or Give Me Death
“Im Bryiah Yivrah, But if the Lord creates a creation, and the earth opens its mouth, patzta…

Shelach Lecha: The Limits of Miracles
One of the most fascinating features of the Torah is the mixing of law and narrative. Nowhere is…

Reflections on a Graduation
Mid-June on the North American calendar is graduation season. In the Jewish community, hundreds,…

Beha'alotcha: The Challenge of Leadership
One can reasonably argue that the primary theme of sefer Bamidbar is that of leadership.…

Naso: Seeing is Not Believing
It is amazing how two people can look at the exact same thing and yet see things very differently.…

Shavuot: An Omer of Kindness
It is the omer, a measure of barley, that unites the Biblical holidays of Pesach and…

Bamidbar:The Challenge of Change
One of the hallmarks of a strong society is its ability to smoothly effect change. New leaders and…

Behar: Climbing the Mountain
Many a great and historic event took place on a mountain. Noach’s ark rested on Mount Arrarat…

Some Thoughts on the Coronation of King Charles lll
Pomp and ceremony are very Jewish ideas. While this may come as a surprise to many, the Torah…

Emor: The Setting Sun
The major theme of sefer Vayikra is, arguably, that of tumah and taharah, purity and impurity. When…

Kedoshim: It's All About Man
“The majority of the essence of the Torah is dependant upon it”. So asserts Rashi as he begins his…