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As this week’s Torah portion opens, Moses continues what is his second speech or sermon to the people, beginning “See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.” As the Torah continues, Moses appeals to the people to choose a life of blessing, a life in the service of God. The narrative then shifts to the actual laws detailing how we are to live in all facets of life: personal, private, public, legal, social, moral and ritual. Eventually, the portion comes to the recapping of the holidays of the year. Read more...

Before creating the human being, according to a Midrash, God consulted the angels of heaven. The angel of peace argued, "Don't create him! He will bring war into Your world!" The angel of compassion countered, "He will do kindness, create him!" The angel of justice offered, "Create him! He will do what's right." The angel of truth argued, "He will fill the world with lies, don't create him!" What did God do? God buried truth in the earth and created the Human Being. Read more...

The day after our return from a short vacation to a location not known for its kosher restaurants or other dining options (which describes many places both in our country and around the globe), I got a text from my husband in the late afternoon about planning what to have for dinner. It began: "GIVE ME MEAT!!!" I would be far from the first to note that the Torah seems to be ambivalent about the eating of meat and its permissibility. In Gen. 1:29, the first humans are told by God: Read more...

We Americans are an optimistic bunch, always looking ahead to what is just beyond the horizon. Whether it's the newest Apple product, or the latest installment in The Fast and the Furiousseries, we just can't help but fall for the possibilities contained in something shiny and, as yet, undiscovered. Read more...