God is the God of order and we see the divine recipe in Leviticus 24:7–8: “Also, you are to take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it, with two tenths of an ephah in each cake. Then you are to set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before Adonai. Set pure frankincense on each row, as a memorial portion for the bread, an offering by fire to Adonai.”
Read MoreLet’s start with a sore subject: losing things. Wallets. Car keys. Expensive smart phones. IPads. Computers even. And sometimes we lose something to which we feel especially attached. We look everywhere and come to the grim realization that the object is gone. What happens then? Anger. Sadness. Self-reproach. Our loss is more than financial.
But all is not dark.
Read MoreOur parasha contains that momentous occasion when our people received the Torah at Mount Sinai. Due to the centrality of this pivotal moment in Jewish history, the rabbis have scrutinized, pondered, and debated every minute detail. One of their questions was, “How did they know that it was God speaking to them?”
Read MoreImitatio Dei, the imitation of God, is an idea with a long history in both the Jewish and Christian worlds (it’s a Latin phrase after all), and with surprising relevance today. From a Jewish perspective Imitatio Dei sounds like real chutzpah—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Read More“Bo knows.” About 20 years ago, Bo Jackson was a superstar athlete who played both baseball and football, and played them well. Nike picked him up and marketed his talent and prestige with the slogan that he knew what was going on. And so, this parasha, Bo, knows what’s going on.
Read MoreWhat’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.
Shakespeare’s famous soliloquy has Juliet asking why Romeo has to be called by that name, by that family. But what’s in a name, indeed?
Read MoreThis week’s parasha, Shemot (“names”), is the beginning of the story of Israel’s redemption from Egypt. People who are named in the beginning of Exodus have something to teach us—those who are not named, like Pharaoh, have no enduring legacy.
Read MoreThe news stream today is filled with stories of abuse and betrayal, and we might wonder whether deeds like this can ever be forgiven. And even if they are, can the perpetrators ever be trusted again? The tale of Joseph and his brothers answers such questions.
Read MoreThe long narrative of Joseph and his brothers is truly a story of “everything turns out okay in the end,” but more importantly it is a story of change, teshuvah (repentance), and forgiveness.
Read MoreAlong with his sons, Mattathias and the faithful followers fled to the hills to continue the revolt and many gathered around them. Importantly, Mattathias ruled that the Maccabean army could take up arms on the Sabbath to repulse the king’s army.
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