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…
Tag: Messianic
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.…
Bittersweet: Remembering Who We Are
Parashat Chukat is one of the most enigmatic portions in the entire Torah. It begins with a strange ritual, winds through miracles and mourning, and ends in paradox. The sages teach us that if we are willing to live with…
Korach – You Say You Want a Revolution
Do you ever have, as one children’s book would describe it, a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day”? Well, Moses sure did. In fact, it must have seemed to him like he had fourteen thousand six hundred days like…
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…
Beha’alotcha – Salvation On Trial
This week’s parasha will introduce a theme that will characterize much of the remaining narrative of Bamidbar. Chapters 11-25 contain a series of refusals on the part of Israel to accept authority. In chapter 12 even Miriam challenges Moses’ authority.…
Nasso – Bless is More
Listen to an audio version… The Blessing We Never Outgrow This week’s parasha contains one of only two prescribed blessings in the entire Torah: the Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing. “Adonai bless you and keep you! Adonai make His face…
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…
Behar and Bechukotai – The Jubilee and the King: Proclaiming Liberty in the Lord
This week’s double Torah portion, Parashat Behar and Parashat Bechukotai (Leviticus 25–27), opens a window into the extraordinary generosity of Hashem. It reveals a God whose kindness is not confined to individual blessing but extends into the structures of society…