The Shalosh regalim, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot are referred to as the ‘foot’ festivals, because we made the pilgrimage on foot. We shed the comforts of home but returned with huge blessings and uplift. Just like a seed planted in the soil which, initially rots, shedding its skin, but produces fruit far beyond the single…
Education means bringing light into the lives of our children – literally, enlightenment. This can only take place if the school, or parents, explain the Torah meaning of life, plus the moral and ethical teachings, so that children, when adults, have a measuring stick to distinguish right from wrong.
How do you use your voice? Is it a vehicle for exercise of power and control? Or does it bely fears and insecurities? Or is it an instrument of vocal touch and meaningful connection? The name of this week’s Parsha, Emor, means ‘to speak’. G-d instructs Moshe how to speak gently to the Kohanim and…
Isn’t it interesting that the Biblical narrative of creation is portrayed in terms of a Divine soliloquy: “And G-d said…”. Would it not have been more ‘sophisticated’ to attribute to G-d some more profound form of communication like “And G-d meditated…” or “ And G-d mystically communicated…”. Yet ‘G-d said’ is the phrase of choice.…
There are many Hebrew words for forms of verbal communication. The one used in this week’s parsha , Emor, means to communicate with empathy, gentleness and due care. This is a special lesson for parents and teachers. A meaningful legacy is not passed on with information alone. The way the words are conveyed is crucial.
