Torah Commentary

FEED ETHIOPIAN JEWS!

DEAR FRIENDS, MY VISITS TO DESTITUTE JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN ETHIOPIA THIS SUMMER MOVED ME TO PRODUCE THIS A TWO MINUTE "TRAILER" AND A MORE DETAILED 25 MINUTE VIDEO. I URGE YOU TO WATCH THEM AND THEN TO HELP ME SAVE LIVES BY DONATING IN ANY AM...

Articles

Chukat: A Wilderness Remembrance

One of my life’s greatest privileges has been time in the reborn Jewish state, a mystical dream to so many past generations.     Among many other experiences in Israel, I have had the opportunity to walk in places that brought the To... Continue Reading »
Jun 18
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish History, Israel

Korach: Overruling Your Objection

Watch on YouTube    Moses and Aaron’s first cousin Korach is one of the Torah’s villains. He led the most serious challenge to their authority, leading an open revolt.     His actual arguments were not entirely without me... Continue Reading »
Jun 11
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Ethics

Shelach: Virtu(e)al Happiness

View on YouTube Are the behavioral constraints of Torah compatible with American ideals of freedom?    This week’s Torah portion, Shelach-Lekah, states:    וּזְכַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֹ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑... Continue Reading »
Jun 04
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Ethics

Behaalotekha: How to Be Great ... and Humble

Watch on YouTube Just as I was closing the newspaper recently, my eye landed on someone’s angry statement, “I never let anyone disrespect me.”  I didn’t read the article and don’t know what he or she experienced in life to produce that... Continue Reading »
May 28
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Ethics

Love Means Saying You're Sorry

Watch on YouTube     According to the 1970 film Love Story, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”     In our polarized society, it often seems as though “never say you’re sorry” has become a li... Continue Reading »
May 21
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Ethics

Life on the Line: Rockets in Sderot

Dear Friends,   Due to the terrible, on-going violence in Israel, I depart this week from my Divrei Torah to share a personal account of a friend in Sderot, one of the (literally) hardest hit communities.     First, ... Continue Reading »
May 14
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Israel

A Corrective to the "Sticks and Stones" Adage

Watch on YouTube According to Wikipedia, the children’s adage: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” first appeared in 1830 in a book by English travel writer and historian Alexander William Kinglake. It is used as a... Continue Reading »
May 06
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Ethics

The Torah's "Equal Protection Clause."

Watch on Youtube   “Equal Protection Under the Law” is a bedrock principle of our American constitutional jurisprudence.  At least, that’s what I was taught in law school.     But “equal protection” wasn’t part of ei... Continue Reading »
Apr 30
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Ethics

Kedoshim: "I'm Just Mad About You"

Watch on YouTube Let’s take a Bible quiz.  Which one of the following verses from this week’s Torah portions of Aharei-Mot/Kedoshim doesn’t fit with the others? a)     “Love your neighbor as yourself” b) &nb... Continue Reading »
Apr 23
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Ethics
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If charity cost nothing, the world would be full of philanthropists.
Jewish Proverb