Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

With the Book of Va-Yikra (Leviticus) we return to the heart of the Torah, to those remarkable passages that translate the lofty values of Sinai into the concrete practices of everyday life, that instruct how to infuse the most mundane and conventional of deeds with the glow of sanctity, that teach how to invest every moment of our day with the intimacy of God's presence. Read more...

It would be comfortable and familiar to say, “Well of course, this is what Rabbi A.J. Heschel meant when he coined the phrase “a palace in time” – he was no doubt relating to why our Torah portion begins with the laws of Shabbat and continues with the building of the Mishkan (tabelnacle).” But I would like to take us on somewhat of a different journey. I have been accused of picking on one word of the Torah portion when crystallizing my thoughts, so I have chosen this week to limit myself to one vowel! Read more...

This Purim I adorned myself with a pair of pants, a skirt, a blouse and yet another skirt (draped as a toga) all bearing a black and white pattern of different sorts. I asked people to guess who or what I am. Read more...

One of the most terrifying aspects of getting married is the idea of making a commitment to one person for the rest of their life. One of the most daunting responsibilities of parenthood is knowing that another life is dependent on you forever. Even going to the pound to get a pet can intimidate because of the permanence of the commitment. Read more...

One of my most vivid childhood memories is of my father giving me birthday and/or Hanukah presents.  Not necessarily for the presents themselves, for I have long since forgotten what most of them were, but for the way in which he would give them.  Sitting in his chair in the living room, he would call me to the room.  When I arrived, he would tell me that he had dropped something behind the chair (often his cigarettes though that I would definitely like to forget), and needed me to get it for him.  Read more...