Parashah Shoftim continues Moses’s speech delineating various legal teachings for Israel. It tries to promote justice from within the community. Every member of the community is entitled to the same justice and deserve a fair government.
Imagine the opening scene of R’eih (Deut: 11:26 to 16:17) in which Moses instructed the Israelites “you shall pronounce the blessing at Mt. Gerizim and the curse at Mount Ebal” (11:29). Israelites would say blessings one way (toward one mountain) and say...
Living in Los Angeles, much of my time is spent stressed in the car as I grow frustrated with traffic. I found myself in this situation last week as I dragged myself to a meeting across town in the middle of rush hour. Google Maps directed me away from the...
Teach your children well.
This week’s Torah portion D’varim (The Words) opens with Moses, a once reluctant leader, beginning his farewell address to the Israelites at the threshold of Canaan.
When I study Torah, I read the story of a people creating their own community structure. There is plenty of material to consider in this week’s double Torah portion, Matot Mas’ei.
Parshat Pinchas is a very rich portion with a wealth of things to talk about.
When a parashah contains the Torah’s (one and only) famous talking female donkey, it is sure to be interesting. This week, we study Balak, from Numbers 22:2-25:9.
Chukat, this week’s parasha, reveals the deaths of both Miriam and Aaron, not only significant leaders of the Jewish people, but siblings of perhaps our greatest leader Moses.
Every summer my husband and I take a bicycling trip. It has provided an opportunity for us to see parts of the world we would not have otherwise visited, while remaining active.