The Socially Distant Seder
This Passover is going to be different. Over the last few weeks the world has plunged into an existence I can only describe as Biblical times. No longer do we wonder how a nation can be stricken with a plague, whether that is pestilence, frogs, fiery hail, or the...
A Voluntary Offering, and a Second Chance
This week's reading, the first chapters of Vayikra (Leviticus), discusses various types of voluntary offerings that a person could bring in the Holy Temple — whether from oxen, sheep, doves, or flour. While fulfilling obligations always came first, a person had the...
A Separated Shabbos, Together
In this week's reading, Moshe gathers the people together -- and talks to them about Shabbos. "For 6 days you will do your labor, and the seventh will be holy for you, a Sabbath of Sabbaths to G-d... And you will not pass a fire through all your settlements on the...
All in the Family
Celebrating Purim, the rabbis tell us, entails four things: hearing the reading of the Megillah (the Scroll of Esther), having a festive meal, giving gifts to the poor, and sending food packages to friends. Those are the four commandments of the day. The first two...
Colors of Joy
The new Jewish month of Adar began yesterday, ushering in the joyous holidays of Purim and Passover. In this spirit the Sages of the Talmud have said "When Adar arrives, we increase in happiness." We don't think of happiness, true happiness, as something to be...
Let It Go Through You
In this week's reading, Moshe and the Jewish nation gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. Judaism teaches us that along with the Written Torah printed in every Bible, God also taught Moshe the Oral Law, giving much more detail about the...
