Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Parsha, weekly Torah portion, Ki Tissa, begins with a census/tax.  Every adult male is mandated to contribute a half-shekel for the maintenance of the Mishkan (the portable sanctuary of the desert, in service until the Beit Mikdash, the Temple … Continue reading →

This week’s parsha, Terumah, begins with God telling Moshe to collect the donations the people will make in order to build the Mishkan, the sanctuary. וְיִקְחוּ־לִי תְּרוּמָה מֵאֵת כָּל־אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ, And take for me Terumah (donations raised to a … Continue reading →

While I do usually spend daily effort and attention to Talmud (oral Torah) and Tanach (written Torah), what really appeals to me at this point in my life is generally described as Kabbalah, our “mystical” tradition. No, I have no … Continue reading →

Although it flies in the face of orthodox empiricism, the mystical insights of our tradition suggest there really is no such thing as simple and direct cause-and-effect. Rather, we view everything that happens in the realm of our awareness to … Continue reading →

The phrase Tikkun Olam has become perhaps the central Jewish observance of those who have left other observance and mitzvot behind.  To be sure, it’s a very important description of our work as humans, and more specifically as Jews, in … Continue reading →

In everyday experience, as explained by the simplest physics, heat is really wasted energy, lost in resistance or friction.  What we  perceive as great, even heroic, effort is often just wasted effort. Despite certain appearances, in reality the rules and … Continue reading →

Rather than discussing cosmology or theology, as one might think a commentary on the Creation of the Universe in Parshat Bereishit would start, Rashi begins his teachings on the entire Torah quoting an opinion that the Torah really should have begun with … Continue reading →

Until the lunar year re-synchs with the solar later this spring when we experience the “leap” month of Adar II, our Jewish calendar has appeared “very early” this year. Nonetheless, the upcoming parshiot (weekly Torah readings) which feature the Ten Plagues … Continue reading →

Rashi makes a very cryptic statement in a comment on this parsha. The eighth verse begins, וַיָּקָם מֶלֶךְ־חָדָשׁ עַל־מִצְרָיִם, And a new king arose over Egypt, to which Rashi explains, (רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, חַד אָמַר חָדָשׁ מַמָּשׁ, וְחַד אָמַר שֶׁנִּתְחַדְּשׁוּ גְּזֵרוֹתָיו (ש”ר … Continue reading →

This week’s parsha, Vayechi, features Yaakov’s final blessings to his twelve sons and, through them, to the future Jewish people. This is preceded, however, with Yaakov’s intention to reveal to his sons all the future in its entirety.  Rashi explains … Continue reading →