An old commercial for a budget motel chain used to end with the warm invitation: “Come on in—we’ll leave the light on for you.” Delivered in a friendly, down-home tone, it evoked a sense of welcome, hominess, and belonging—an invitation…
Author: Rabbi Paul
Haftarah Nasso – Leaders We Deserve
I certainly do not want to retell the story of Samson in detail. You know it. You’ve heard it before. You may have even seen or heard any number of dramatizations. Of course, there is the famous 1949 Cecille…
A Tale of Two Mountains
If we are going to talk about Shavuot, let’s begin at Mount Sinai, where, according to our tradition, the first Shavuot was inaugurated. The mountain trembled violently. There was thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and fire descending from heaven. The…
Emor – The Blemished and the Whole
For decades, Western society has been making concerted efforts to be more accepting and inclusive of those who have physical and mental disabilities. This means that accommodations must be made for impediments that have historically restricted people from living fully…
Kedoshim – A Call to Holiness in a Cynical Age
It’s no surprise that many Americans are increasingly skeptical of organized religion. For years, rumors of abuse circulated within Catholic parishes, and when the truth emerged, few were truly shocked. What did shock—and appall—many was the extent of the cover-up…
Priests and Protocol
In Parashat Shemini, we are confronted with the sobering story of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who bring what the Torah calls esh zarah, strange or unauthorized fire, before the Lord. While the exact nature of their offense…
Passover Lambs and Chesed Community
Among messianic Jews much has been said concerning the parallels between the sacrifices of the paschal lamb and that of Yeshua. After all the paschal lamb was the Korban Pesach, the essential sacrifice which God commanded the children of Israel…
Tzav – Ear, Thumbs and Toes
The book of Vayikra is often referred to as the Torat Kohanim, The Teachings of the Priests. It contains the exact prescriptions for the kohanim to minister in the Mishkan and later in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Its topics…
He Ain’t Levi, He’s My Brother
Parasha Vayikra marks the beginning of the accounting of the Levitical responsibilities within the Mishkan. Much of what follows concerns the sacrificial system of Israel. On a transactional level, these rituals may seem like ancient practices with little relevance to…
Terumah – The Presence of God in Our Homes, Hearts, and Worship
The central question in the book of Exodus is simple yet profound: “Is God with us or not?” This is not just a theological inquiry but a matter of practical living for the Israelites as they journey through the wilderness.…