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…
Category: Good News
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…
Shelach Lecha – The Hallmark of Equality
Seeing Giants or Seeing God? This week’s portion, Shelach Lecha, contains several obvious themes within a familiar narrative: Be bold. Do not fear. Trust God. The majority is not always right. The context, of course, is the story of the…
Shavuos All Over Again
Déjà Vu at Sinai Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra was renowned for his unique and often comical way of turning a phrase. One expression that became part of the American lexicon was, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.”…
Bamidbar – Making Souls Count
Counting More Than Numbers There is something both necessary and unsettling about a census. Most of us understand why governments conduct them. Demographic information helps determine where roads are built, where hospitals are needed, how schools are funded, and how…
Tazria and Metzora – The Lightness of Grace
Seeing the Whole Person In this week’s Torah portions, Tazria and Metzora, we encounter the person afflicted with tzara’at, a condition that brings not only physical suffering but also deep social isolation. The Torah instructs that the afflicted individual be…
Passover – All Who Are Hungry?
Racial strife is nothing new. We sometimes speak as though our moment is uniquely fractured, as though division and suspicion are inventions of modernity. But the truth is more sobering. From the earliest days of human society, we have struggled…
Tzav and Shabbat HaGadol – An Altar of Peace, a Cup of Salvation, and an Offering of Thanks
As we come to Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Sabbath that ushers us to the threshold of Pesach, we find ourselves in a moment that is both reflective and anticipatory. We look back to redemption even as we prepare to experience…
Korban Copies: Becoming Living Offerings
When I was in college, I had a friend who kept a large collage on the wall of his dorm room. At first glance it looked like a collection of family photographs. The pictures were carefully arranged and gave the…