Rabbi’s Torah Commentary

I remember my late Grandma Bessie. We used to call her “Hurricane Bess.” She was short and round and spoke in ways that could make a sailor blush – and she was an incredible grandma. What Yiddish I know – I learned from her. I can’t use any of it in public. She had a […]

Let’s call this “Shmini part 2.” Last week, I chose to write on a piece of this portion, even though the text for Passover Shabbat was about a five verse excerpt back in Exodus. I knew that I had too many thoughts on this portion to handle in one piece, so I took a little […]

In the midst of Passover, we face a new sense of bondage. COVID-19 holds each of us hostage to our homes. For the first time in many of our lives, Jews are unable to share this family-oriented holiday in person. This holiday celebrates liberation past, present, and future. Typically, we invite strangers to our table, […]

Doctors say that one should eat a good breakfast. It stays with you and gives you the energy to burn throughout the day. While the long term impact of breakfast may vary person to person, starting each day on a “good note” works. Too often, though, even if we start the day positively, it is usually […]

Sacrifice – to give up the personal ownership or enjoyment of something personal for a greater (sacred) ideal. Biblically, the literal text speaks of an offering on an altar, ostensibly to God. This week, in opening the Book of Leviticus, we meet the Tabernacle’s sacrificial cult. We read about the different “sacrifices” that God instructs […]

General Colin Powell taught us, “Always focus on the front windshield and not the review mirror.” All State Insurance Company runs a commercial where their driver “Mayhem” badly tailgates the car in front of him. He so distracts the driver of the other car that the front car rams ppl the back of a truck, […]

In the Garden of Eden, God speaks with Adam and Eve. After Cain and Abel bring their offerings, God speaks to Cain. God seems to speak directly to some people throughout the Biblical text. In only a few places, though, can we read that God has a direct visual encounter with humans. In Genesis 32:30, […]

“And [the priestly garments] shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near to the Altar to minister in the holy place, that they bear not iniquity and die.” (28:43) I am not sure, but I think that this text says that if […]

Temporary. What an interesting word. I went to the dentist and she had to replace a broken crown. After removing the broken pieces and the dried glue, she fashioned a temporary crown. This “temporary” crown was supposed to last a week until the new one came in. It did. It served its purpose, but it […]

Last week, we read the top “10 Things Ever Said From Atop A Mountain.” Colloquially, they are the “10 Commandments” but the Hebrew is less clear (see last week’s commentary). The final words of the Torah portion exhibits Moses’ attempt to convey all that God had said. The people were too afraid to hear it for […]