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Rosh Hashanah is rapidly approaching. The first (week)day without sounding the Shofar is almost over. Throughout the day, however, my head has been filled with an idealized version of the Shofar’s song. Tekia, Sh’varim Truah, Tekia, Tekia Gedola….The song builds … Continue reading →

We learn that Moshe fervently prayed, asked for favor/Grace, Chen, חן, 515 times (which is the gematria, numerical value, of the word “v’etchanan“, ואתחנן), begging God to overturn His previous decision to bar him (Moshe) from entering The Land. Moshe’s … Continue reading →

Today has been the tenth of Av–yesterday was Shabbat and no one fasts. Nonetheless, the energy resembles “the real deal”, Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av, and those who fast, refrain from showers and leather shoes, et al., are engaged … Continue reading →

This week’s parsha, Kedoshim (in Israel, it’s Acharei Mot in the diaspora) lists and reviews many mitzvot presented earlier. One of them, Lo Ta’ashok Et Reyecha (Vayikra 19:13) on the surface merely seems to instruct us not to take advantage … Continue reading →

Based on Devarim 22:6-7, we’re instructed that if we happen upon a nest with fledglings or eggs in it, we should send the mother away before taking the birds or eggs. We’re promised, as a reward, a long life. Superficially, … Continue reading →

“And who knows, perhaps it was just for such a time as this that you became Queen” “Umi Yodeah, Im L’Eyt HaZot HiGa’at LaMalchut“ Megillat Esther  4:12 As Purim rapidly approaches this year and there is more apparent chaos in … Continue reading →

I’ve played guitars for more than sixty years, and as almost every musician experiences, between practice time and just for the love of playing, the vast majority of that time I’ve played by myself. But, again as almost every musician … Continue reading →

כל הנשמה תהלל י-ה הללוי-ה The Entire Neshama Will Praise Y-ah, Halleluy-ah King David ended his monumental work, Tehillim, Psalms, which, among other things, contains or hints at the entire Oral (meaning no written, not fixed to any printed page, … Continue reading →

Leaving Egypt, our first exile, is the paradigm of Redemption and Transformation, setting the themes for the other four exiles and redemptions. The women of Yisrael are told to “borrow” precious items of gold and silver from their Egyptian neighbors. A … Continue reading →

Among the many profound pleasures I enjoy living in Israel is that I no longer define myself as who I’m not. To survive two millennia in foreign, often hostile (occasionally softly hostile but more frequently brutally hard) environments, we needed … Continue reading →