Category: Uncategorized

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…

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…

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…

Noach – Lessons From Dry Ground

The past several decades, and especially this year, seem to bring new catastrophic threats and concerns to the southeast portion of the Americas and the Caribbean Islands.  This year as 2 hurricanes  rapidly made land fall within a few week’s,…

Everybody Needs a Hero

Everybody needs a hero although often we don’t get the one we expect. Today’s Torah portion describes the heroic actions of Aaron, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). Like most true heroes, he had to rise to an occasion greater than…

Tetzaveh – Holy Advocates

Early in this week’s parasha we are introduced to the new and exotic station given to Aaron and his sons—the role and office of the Kohanim (priests). They would become the highest religious authorities in the Torah, providing a stable…