by Dr. Marty Maketansky Who has ever personally witnessed a miracle? When I was growing up there are two events that I remember that were and still are called miraculous. Were they really miracles? I leave the answer to you,…
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Toldot – Fast Food vs. Soul Food
The story of Jacob and Esau is really a story about appetite, purpose, and the lifelong tension between living for the moment and living for meaning. Their struggle begins before they are born. Rebecca, feeling the chaos in her womb,…
Lech Lecha – Faith, Covenant, and Risk
I’ve lived in the same house since 1997. My wife and I have raised our family there. We’ve filled it with books, photos, memories, and plenty of things we probably should’ve thrown out years ago. And the thought of moving —…
Shabbat Shuvah – Scandalous!
The Bible is the best-selling book of all time—and one of the least read. Even those who profess deep love for Scripture, quoting chapter and verse with ease, rarely read it from cover to cover. We tend to skip the…
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…
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…
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.…
Mishpatim – A Way to Live in the Presence of the Lord
This week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, can feel like a bit of a letdown following the sacred drama at Mount Sinai recorded for posterity in Parashat Yitro. At the conclusion of last week’s parasha, Israel is given immortality with its designation…