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May 27, 2023 – 11:40 pm | 60 views

The kohen (priest) plays many central roles in this week’s Torah portion. Primary among them is the priestly blessing. G-d endowed the kohen with the power to confer blessing. It is a potent power. Imagine holding the keys to another’s fortune and happiness. If you choose, you can endow them …

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Articles tagged with: devotion

Korach: The Selfie

June 30, 2019 – 12:11 am | 1,319 views
selfie-innerstream.ca

Selfie pictures are all the rage these days. There are all kinds of tricks to get just the right angle. You can get an arm extender to help you to get the best shot. I saw reports that one of the hottest sale items last year was a pocket-size selfie …

Vayakhel Pekudei: The Heart of a Relationship

March 11, 2012 – 3:36 am | 147 views
Aron Hakodesh

The Ark
It was a building party. Hammers banging on anvils, saws cutting through wood, artisans weaving designs, all crafting, fashioning, designing and building a magnificent home for G-d. They set up the structure and spread out her covers. They readied the altars, show table and candelabra, but before those could …

Matot: The Joys of Ice-Cream

July 20, 2011 – 6:31 pm | 3,569 views
the joys of ice cream - innerstream

Can You Have Your Cake And Eat It Too?
When we see a religious leader living the good life, fancy cars, extravagant expense accounts and private jets, we are naturally skeptical about their piety. When we think of the devout we conjure up images of the impoverished and downtrodden whose faith, …

Vayigash: O’ The Circuitous Trail Of Love

December 20, 2009 – 2:29 am | 6,082 views
the circuitous trails of love - innerstream

A Perplexing Concealment
Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. Unbeknownst to them the sale worked to his advantage when remarkable circumstances led to his appointment as viceroy of Egypt. Under Joseph’s guidance Egypt collected vast storehouses of foods and was well prepared when a terrible famine struck the region. …

Emor: Meaningful Choices

April 29, 2007 – 5:01 am | 2,686 views
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Temptation
“He was in love with a Jewish woman. She was as Jewish as he was, but there was a problem. She was a convert and he was a kohein, a member of the priestly family.” (1) When I gently informed him that Jewish law forbids the marriage between a kohein …

Tzav: Total Devotion

March 25, 2007 – 4:18 am | 2,511 views
the size of a sacrifice - innerstream

The Burned Offering
Our ancestors offered many kinds of sacrifices. Peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings and also burned offerings. What is a burned offering? An offering that is burned in its entirety upon the altar.

Vayakhel/Pekudei: The Jewish Mother

March 11, 2007 – 2:51 am | 2 Comments | 3,572 views
the jewish mother - innerstream

Forever
She was there at the very beginning and she is there for us still now. She was there at times of elation and was there in times of distress. She was there in times of hope and is still there in times of despair. She nurtured our faith under the …

Ki Tavo: Serving in A Selfish World

September 3, 2006 – 8:03 pm | 2,782 views
making it relevant - innerstream

Father and Son
After a long and agonizing separation, Jacob and Joseph were finally reunited at the ancient gates of Egypt. What did the loving father do at that moment? Did he embrace his son and release his pent-up tears? No, he recited the Shema, proclaiming his faith in G-d.