Monthly Archives: November 2013

Each moment is perfect, exactly what it needs to be. Each moment lasts only a הרף עין, haraf ayin, the wink of an eye, as it leads, inevitably, to the next perfect moment, exactly what it needs to be. The … Continue reading →

In past years, I’ve thought (and written) a lot about the conflict between the Greek approach to life as it opposed our ancestors’.  Although much richer in its reality, it represents to us the exclusively empirical approach which, in today’s … Continue reading →

I’ve never been, nor aspired to be a congregational rabbi and I’ve rarely worked with or through established institutions.  Nonetheless, in my role as teacher I’m frequently asked by people just starting their Jewish journey how to begin. In the … Continue reading →

Three people were given a book, a basic arithmetic textbook.  After many years, one student was able to recite the book from start to finish.  Not only that, she could tell you the exact word at every position of every … Continue reading →

Quiet down and quit sniping at each other!  It’s time for us to act like grown-ups. It’s time to learn and accept that some Jews will tend towards more observance and some towards less, and that many on both sides … Continue reading →

A single option strangles; too many paralyze. Perhaps it’s today’s immediate communication on the internet, but many of the rapidly-developing human crises, and not just those of the Torah-aware Jewish world, seem to be the result of literally all or … Continue reading →

As Jews in this world, what is our ultimate goal?  One very significant aspect of Torah and Mitzvot is that they are tools.  We’re taught, at least on those rare occasions where the lectures and lessons go beyond “God said … Continue reading →

I’ve never quite understood why “in this world” we follow the rulings of Hillel (generally more lenient) while “in the next world” we’ll follow the rulings of Shamai (generally more strict).  Likewise, we’re taught that “in this world” the dominant … Continue reading →

Although there’s no way we can ever observe or otherwise verify it, one of the foundations  of our Torah revelation is that God doesn’t change, אֲנִי יְהֹוָה לֹא שָׁנִיתִי, Ani HaShem, Lo Shaniti, I am God, I do not change (Malachi … Continue reading →

One pasuk, verse, always moves me.  It occurs in this week in Parshat Toldot, Bereishit 27:33, וַיֶּחֱרַד יִצְחָק חֲרָדָה גְּדֹלָה עַד־מְאֹד, VaYecherad Yitzchak Charadah Gadolah Ad M’od, And Yitzchak trembled a very great tremble. Until that moment, all of Yitzchak’s adult … Continue reading →