Have you ever been asked the question, “What is your earliest memory?” I have been asked many times. I was a graduate student in psychology when the question was posed. The answer was … more

Twenty-two years have passed since Jacob fled his brother, penniless and alone, since Esau swore his revenge for what he saw as the theft of his blessing. Now the brothers are about to meet … more

This week, in America, you will read the double portion of Acharei-Mot-Kedoshim which, translated literally, means “after the death of the holy ones,” a meaning that was all too appropriate last week when we were reading the same double portion, as it fell on the Shabbat immediately following Israel’s Memorial and Independence days: Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut. more

There are six remembrances that are included in the siddur at the end of Shacharis. Remembering the Exodus, Shabbos, G-d’s presence at Mt. Sinai, what happened to Miriam, how you provoked G-d in the desert, and to destroy Amalek. This list does not include all the times the word zachor (to remember) appears in the Torah. more

In the coming weeks we will read the portions of Acharei-Mot-Kedoshim which, translated literally, means “after the death of the holy ones,” a reference that is all too appropriate as we … more

After describing the difficulty he had in judging the people by himself, Moshe describes how he suggested to the people that they bring forth their most honorable leaders to serve as captains and … more

There is something special about meeting up with an old friend one hasn’t seen in years. I recently had just such a special experience, when I spent a weekend in a community where a friend … more

G rief is the most powerful and painful of human emotions. Yet, it is an emotion which few human beings can avoid in their lifetime. We all face loss, and we all grieve.  In this … more

Our parasha contains the mitzvah of sippur yetziat Mitzrayim, the recounting of the story of the Departure from Egypt, that is fulfilled during the Pesach Seder. The 13th century author of the Sefer … more

Sefer Shemot is a grand journey that takes us from the depths of Egyptian servitude to the construction of the Mishkan wherein Hashem’s Schechinah was revealed to the entire Jewish people. … more