There is a darkness sometimes that rages within which can overpower our very being… I had a Battalion commander, who took the first watch on the tank after a brutal day in the Lebanon war. It was the third night of fighting, and the men by now were near exhaustion. more

The third book of the Torah begins with Moshe being called by God from the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting, a.k.a the Mishkan/Tabernacle). While for us readers it is not unique for Moshe to be called, there is something strikingly odd about Moshe being the only one who is called. more

The calendar this year has us reading "Parshat Parah" (Bamidbar 19, which speaks of the Red Heifer) in the week following our reading of the tale of the Golden Calf (in Ki Tissa - last week's parsha). Is there a connection? more

There are places in this world that are so powerful, so full of meaning that they allow us to tap in to why we are really here. Such a place is Emek HaBacha, The Valley of Tears. more

There is an amazing story told about Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was on a speaking tour across India as part of his non-violent struggle for independence from the British. more

The Jewish movements that changed the face of Jewry in the 19th and 20th centuries raised serious concerns about the nature of the Torah and how it stands the test of time. Many of the mitzvot of the Torah, for example, are not applicable in our day and age – highlighted by the lack of a Temple in Jerusalem. more

There are four times in the Torah when the people are instructed to “take” an item or material for a purpose which is then described, using the Hebrew word “v’yikchu” (with a shva under the vav) – meaning, “and they will take.” more

Priorities; sometimes, we need to take a step back and appreciate the things that are really important in life, if for no other reason than the opportunity it affords us to take note of the things that occupy so much of our time that really aren’t so important…. more

This week’s portion, Terumah, introduces us to one of the most challenging concepts in Judaism. more

In the descriptions of three of the elements of the to-be-constructed mishkan, the Torah includes the phrase “as you saw/were shown in the mountain.” more