Articles in Parsha Insights
Terumah: The Crown
For G-d
Three of the Temple’s sacred vessels had crowns around their perimeter. There was a crown around the incense altar, a crown around the show-table and a crown around the holy ark. Our sages taught, the crown around the altar was taken by Aaron, whose children were destined for the …
Mishpatim: Festival And Season
The Name
The Jewish festivals celebrate the miracles of our history. The festival of Passover celebrates the exodus. Shavuot, celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments. Sukkot, celebrates the miracles that our ancestors experienced during their journey through the desert.
The festivals are named according to the miracles that they commemorate. The …
Yitro: An Unpleasant Truth
Unpleasant
What is the difference between Torah truth and scientific truth? By science I mean every branch of human knowledge that isn’t Torah. One is pleasant the other is unpleasant.
The answer is best presented with a joke I’m sure you’ve heard. It’s about the Jew who was caught reading a Nazi …
BO: Our Egypt
Egypt
Have you ever felt pinned down, restrained and unable to rise? You struggle and writhe, but can’t wriggle free. I don’t mean physically. I mean spiritually. You want to trust that everything will be better, that you are in good hands with G-d, but you can’t rise above your fears, …
Vaera: The Bane of Arrogance
Arrogance
Judaism has unique ideas, ones you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else. For example, Judaism teaches that the king (for that matter the president, prime minister or any other kind of leader) be the humblest in all of society. While arrogance is a sin for all people, it is …
Shemot: In Flow
Need A Break?
Have you ever felt worn out and ready for a break? You wake up in the morning and all you can think about is getting away and doing nothing. Sometimes you only need a day, sometimes a week, but sometimes you feel like you could use an entire …
Vayechi: What Are Your Life Goals?
Life Goals
We all have life goals. For some, it’s the building of family. To others it’s learning and discovery. To some, it’s building wealth. To others, it’s helping others. What are your soul’s life goals?
The soul made a long journey from heaven to earth. We don’t suppose it made its …
Vayeshev: Identity Crisis
The Schism
Are you different things to different people? Do your workplace and home environment support conflicting values? Is your social culture different from your religious culture? Does your family live by one ethos and your neighbors by another?
How do you deal with the dichotomy? Do you blend in wherever you …
