Parshah • March 2023
Vayakhel-Pekudei – Where Lies Our Strength of Survival?
The two parshiot this week are contrasts in emphasis – do we work on the whole, or strengthen the component parts? One wonders which of the two is more significant…
Parshah • March 2023
Tetzaveh – What’s in a Name
Moses’ name doesn’t appear in this week’s Parsha even though he is its central figure. A name doesn’t express the essence of a person. It only identifies him for third…
Parshah • January 2023
Vaeira – Breathe Easy
When Moshe Rabbeinu first approached his enslaved brothers and sisters, they ignored him. Rashi notes their breathing was stressfully shallow and short. A person of faith sidesteps anxiety and stress…
Parshah • March 2022
Pekudei – The Individual and the Collective
This week’s Parsha is often read together with the previous one, Vayakhel, except during a leap year, like this year. While Vayakhel emphasizes the collective value of pulling together, Pekudei…
Parshah • February 2022
Vayakhel – A Course in Wise Fund-raising
One can be generous to a fault. We were so very generous contributing to the golden calf! So, G-d gave us the opportunity to make amends by contributing to the…
Parshah • February 2022
Ki Tissa – Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Moses rejected the gift of mirrors that the womenfolk offered for the construction of the Mishkan. He was concerned that mirrors were tainted with vanity, even though the Jewish women…
Parshah • February 2022
Teruma – Pride Means Effort, Not Size
Pride is the reward of effort. The magnitude of the outcome matters less than the personal expenditure of effort and involvement. The Jewish people’s effort and contribution to the construction…
Parshah • January 2022
Mishpatim – Breaking the Law
Mishpatim is about civil and criminal law. Most societies promulgate laws for governing law and order. These are abided by through the concept of a social contract. Torah law is…
Parshah • January 2022
Yitro – Getting on the Right Boat
Yitro was an idol worshipper par excellence but nevertheless became Moses’ father-in-law and one of the most famous converts to Judaism. Far from being mentally deficient, idol worshippers often were…
Beshelach • January 2022
Beshalach – The Power of Song
This Parsha is also called Shabbat Shira – the Sabbath of Song, as the Jewish people sing as they finally experience emancipation. While words reveal thoughts, song expresses deep felt…
Parshah • January 2022
Bo – Entering the Lion’s Den
The opening word, Bo, instructs Moses to ‘come’ to Pharaoh, come right into the lion’s den, not just ‘go’ up to him casually. This is a lesson in dealing with…
Parshah • January 2022
Va’eira – Breathe Easy
When Moshe Rabbeinu first approached his enslaved brothers and sisters, they ignored him. Rashi notes their breathing was stressfully shallow and short. A person of faith sidesteps anxiety and stress…
Parshah • December 2021
Shemot – What’s in a Name?
The word ‘shemot’ means ‘names’. A name can never describe the essence of the person, and yet it identifies him or her. Likewise, G-d has many names which help us…
Parshah • February 2021
Tetzaveh – The Candle Has to Stay Lit
Why was the lighting of the Candelabra in the Mishkan so carefully worded, even seeking surety that the flame stays lit? Our soul is like G-d’s candle and each one…