Rabbi’s Torah Commentary

Last week, we read about how to tell if someone bears a designated “skin disease.” This week, we learn the rules and processes as part of the afflicted person’s purification. Often last week’s portion and this one are joined in one week. You get the diagnosis and the purification all in one week. When, however, it […]

I love my faith tradition! Even while the Book of Ecclesiastes teaches us that there is nothing new under the Sun (1:9), we also know that each year, as we read the “same old” Torah, it has to speak with a brand spanking new voice. Religious people get lazy. We read a text and walk […]

I have a confession to share. I eat non-“kosher” meat. I don’t eat pork. Ok, by Biblical standards, I eat kosher; just not according to many who get paid to supervise the slaughter and preparation of meat. According to the Torah, though, I guess I am pretty strict; and, I believe that God has to […]

I went to the barbershop to get a haircut. It was good to see Gus, my barber. As is his routine, he asked me how I wanted my hair cut. I told him that I wanted him to make me pretty. With all candor he replied, “I’m not sure there’s much to work with.” Not […]

Tonight begins Shabbat Zachor. This is the Sabbath of Memory – the Shabbat just before Purim. On Purim, we will retell the story of the Book of Esther. We will read about how a young Jewish maiden became the Queen of the Persian Empire. We will read about an evil Court official wanted to destroy […]

We make a big deal over whether people show up in a house of worship sanctuary for prayer or not. The regulars look at the “Once or Twice a Yearers” and somehow cannot the miss opportunity to point out their regular absences to them. I know in my heart that pointing the finger with this […]

As I stood in the basement of the Hirshhorn Museum (modern art) in Washington DC, I found myself captivated by the décor. Walls floors and ceilings were covered in words and motivational phrases. One, in particular, caught my eye. “Belief + Doubt = Sanity.” I thought about it for a few moments. On the wall […]

Adonai! Adonai! God, Compassionate and Gracious, Slow to anger and Abundant in Kindness and Truth, Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations, Forgiver of iniquity, willful sin, and error, and Who facilitates cleansing.” Exodus 34:6-7. Moses came down the mountain and smashed the tablets with the first set of “10 Commandments.” He berated the people. […]

Prayer is a most important part of my existence. My tradition has a fairly set liturgy for morning, afternoon, and evening prayer services. Growing up in a fairly “conservadox” community, I never quite understood how people could sing-song their way through what seemed to be a 40-page service in 15 minutes or less. As I […]

It is hard to have a relationship with someone long distance. I know that the number of love stories that have ended up in tearful breakups could fill every library in the country. I know I had my own. With the best of intentions, we tell our beloveds that even while we have to be […]