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Moving With Astonishing Speed

April 21, 2025 – 10:35 pm | Comments Off on Moving With Astonishing Speed49 views

Insects churn their legs with astonishing speed. Their unique respiratory system delivers oxygen to their limbs efficiently, allowing them to move quickly. They are also very well coordinated, allowing them to alternate between swinging their legs and standing still. Yet, they barely make headway. Aunts must take hundreds of steps …

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Passover »

Find Your Light

April 5, 2025 – 9:57 pm | Comments Off on Find Your Light
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The Shabbat before Passover is called Shabbat Hagadol, the great Shabbat. There are several reasons for this moniker, primarily that a great miracle occurred that day.

On this day, the Egyptian firstborn observed Jews leading lambs down the public streets to their homes. This was surprising because the Egyptians worshipped lambs. Though they knew Jews ate lamb, Jews always did so behind closed doors to avoid antagonizing the Egyptians. Suddenly, Jews were parading down the streets, leading lambs to their homes. Read the full story »

When Religion Becomes Self Worship

March 29, 2025 – 10:03 pm | Comments Off on When Religion Becomes Self Worship
self-worship

This week’s Torah portion is all about sacrifices. The Hebrew word for sacrifice is korban, which means closeness. There are two ways to view an offering: (a) something I give up for G-d, (b) something that draws me close to G-d. The question is what religious worship means to you. …

Things We Leave Unsaid

March 22, 2025 – 9:45 pm | Comments Off on Things We Leave Unsaid
Things we leave unsaid

The Torah portion we read this week is Pekudei, which means accounting. In it, Moses accounts for every donation collected for the Tabernacle and lists them in precise detail.
This got me thinking about the accounting we must make every so often to clear up unsettled issues. I am talking about …

When G-d Wakes Up

March 8, 2025 – 9:53 pm | Comments Off on When G-d Wakes Up
sleeping-king

Purim: When G-d wakes Up
The Megillah tells the story of King Ahasuerus, who could not sleep in the middle of the night. He asked his servants to read the palace chronicles to him, and they read about Mordechai saving the king’s life. He immediately ordered Haman to reward Mordechai by …

You Are Good

March 1, 2025 – 9:32 pm | Comments Off on You Are Good
you-are-good

This week, we read about the vestments worn by the priests and high priests. An elegant tunic, topped by a flowing robe with golden tassels was girded by a majestic sash and adorned by a fashionable apron and a diamond-studded breastplate. A golden forehead plate and a beautiful turban headdress …

You Are Gold

February 22, 2025 – 9:37 pm | Comments Off on You Are Gold
gold

G-d instructed Moses to convene a team of superior artisans to lead a team to build the Tabernacle. Though the leaders were superior artisans, anyone could volunteer; one did not need an exceptional pedigree to earn a place on the team. All it took was a required skill set. The …

Never Tell A Lie

February 15, 2025 – 10:18 pm | Comments Off on Never Tell A Lie
never-tell-a-lie

Our sages were fence builders—not in the conventional sense, but metaphorically. The Torah presents many prohibitions, and our sages built fences around them to ensure we do not step over the line. For example, the Torah tells us not to write on Shabbat, and our sages prohibited even holding a …

This Is My G-d

February 1, 2025 – 9:33 pm | Comments Off on This Is My G-d
My-G-d

In this Torah portion, the Jews made one of history’s most dramatic and romantic statements. When G-d split the Red Sea, they were overcome with emotion. “This is my G-d,” they exclaimed, “and I will beautify Him.” They didn’t say this is G-d or even this is our G-d; they …

As The Hostages Come Home

January 25, 2025 – 8:54 pm | Comments Off on As The Hostages Come Home
Hostages

As the hostages return home, they revel in their freedom, but at some point, they will ask themselves why they were liberated. What is their new purpose? What must they do with their newfound freedom?
Before the Exodus from Egypt, G-d gave us two commandments: circumcision and the paschal lamb. Why …