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February 1, 2025 – 9:33 pm | Comments Off on This Is My G-d67 views

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 …

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Mishpatim : The Six Year Bondsman

February 1, 2005 – 11:37 am | Comments Off on Mishpatim : The Six Year Bondsman
the six year bondsman - innerstream

Automatic Liberty?
Our Parsha teaches that a Jew may be sold into servitude for six years but on the first day of the seventh year the slave is automatically granted full liberty. (1) This law evokes images of a spontaneous transformation from princess to pumpkin at the stroke of midnight. …

Yitro : A Protest of Orange Stars

January 29, 2005 – 5:51 am | Comments Off on Yitro : A Protest of Orange Stars
orange stars

A Controversial Decision
The Orange Revolution, a campaign orchestrated in 2005 by Jews in Israel to protest the forced expulsion of Jews from Gaza, advised Jews to wear orange stars on their arm sleeves as a duel symbol of solidarity with the Jewish communities of Gaza and of protest against the …

Terumah : Whose Money Is It Anyway?

January 10, 2005 – 4:09 am | Comments Off on Terumah : Whose Money Is It Anyway?
whose money is it anyway - innerstream

The Tele-marketers and I
As I sat down for dinner, the telephone rang and I found myself responding to the third telemarketer of the evening. These calls came after a day spent digging through unsolicited e-mail from countless businesses and organizations. You can imagine my consternation when the doorbell rang as …

Vaeirah: The Prophetic Experience

January 3, 2005 – 9:38 pm | Comments Off on Vaeirah: The Prophetic Experience
the prophetic experience - innerstream

Puzzles and Prophecies
Every once in a while my children ask me to help them with one of the many puzzles in the cupboard. The usual routine has us sit down on the floor where I examine the shape, color and picture fragment of a puzzle piece to determine where it …

Shemot : Heaven And Earth

December 26, 2004 – 11:15 am | Comments Off on Shemot : Heaven And Earth
heaven and earth - innerstream

There was a steep mountain pass just outside Premishlan that was impassable during the winter because of its treacherous icy conditions. The Chassidic master, Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, would navigate this pass on a regular basis. When asked for his secret he answered simply, “One who is bound to the …

Oral Tradition : Part One

December 23, 2004 – 10:34 am | Comments Off on Oral Tradition : Part One

In the first part of this lecture series we established that G-d must
have given Moshe an oral tradition in tandem with the written text.
This begs a number of questions: What is the oral tradition? If it
comes from G-d why do our rabbis disagree on so many issues?
In the third part …

Oral Tradition : Part Two

December 22, 2004 – 10:38 am | Comments Off on Oral Tradition : Part Two

The Oral tradition was taught to Moshe Rabeinu on Mt. Sinai this is indicated by a number of versus.
Reading #1

“Come
up to me on the mountain and I will give you the stone tablets and the
Torah  Commandments, “Torah” refers to the written Torah,
“Mitzvah” refers to the oral tradition, “that I have …

Vayechi : Where Did the Disconnect Occur?

December 20, 2004 – 4:57 pm | Comments Off on Vayechi : Where Did the Disconnect Occur?
good parenting - innerstream

Growing Into Our Own
His parents want him to apply for business school but he is committed to music.  Throughout college he is subjected to veiled comments and nuanced complaints but the young man holds firm. Four years later he graduates with honors and his parents attend the commencement ceremony. They …