A Kingdom Unlike Any Other The Torah places before us what appears to be a contradiction. In Deuteronomy 15:4 Moses declares with breathtaking confidence, “There shall be no destitute among you.” Yet only a few verses later he says, “The…
Eikev – Look to the Rock
The Rock Our Haftarah opens with one of Isaiah’s most beautiful invitations: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek Adonai. Look to the Rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were…
Va’etchanan and Shabbat Nachamu – From Grace to Comfort; Moses’ Prayer Becomes God’s Promise
A Prayer That Begins with Grace Every year, immediately following the darkest day on the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’Av, we gather for what has become known as Shabbat Nachamu, the Sabbath of Comfort. The transition is almost startling. Only days…
Chazon and Devarim: The Vision Beyond the Rubble
A Time To Move On There are moments in life when we realize we have been standing still for far too long. Sometimes we remain in place because of circumstances beyond our control. More often, however, we remain because something…
Mattot-Massei – Miklat! Miklat!
Justice Begins with Mercy One of the most persistent misunderstandings of Scripture is the belief that the Torah reveals a God of judgment while the Besorot reveal a God of grace. Few portions challenge that misconception more clearly than Masei.…
Pinchas – Cut Into Covenant: The Passion and Promise of Messianic Judaism
There are always two unseen guests at every bris — neither of whom ever gets an invitation, and both of whom probably wouldn’t RSVP even if we sent one. But their presence is felt nonetheless. One is Elijah — the beloved…