Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, great sage of his generation, was once walking with his disciple, Rabbi Joshua, near Jerusalem after the destruction of the Holy Temple. Rabbi Joshua looked at the temple ruins and said, "Alas for us the place which atoned for the sins of the people Israel lies in ruins." Then Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai spoke to him these words of comfort, saying, "Do not grieve, my son. There is another way of gaining atonement even though the temple is destroyed. Read more...

"The total number was 603,550" - Numbers 1:46   The Book of Numbers begins with a head count of the entire Jewish People, before they depart from their Sinai encampment, on the way to the Promised Land. Moses organizes this massive endeavor, with the help of representatives from each of the Tribes, and in the end comes to a count of approximately 600,000 people who make up the Israelite nation. Read more...

"We don't know who discovered water," observed Albert Einstein, but we do know one thing: "It wasn't a fish!" A fish -- born into water, living, eating, breathing water -- is never sufficiently separated from water to become aware. As the unnoticed condition of its existence, no fish will ever know water. And what of us? What surrounds and contains us to which we are unaware? What is the ubiquitous medium of our existence? Read more...

When we got to the resort, a long two-hour drive from the airport, there was nothing remarkable about it. It was like any other resort: comfortable bungalows, but certainly not luxurious, swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, restaurant, game room. Nothing special. I would say the first odd thing we noticed about the place was at the restaurant when we went for dinner that first night. You understand, we weren't obliged to eat at the resort restaurant. The town was only a ten minute drive away, and it wasn't as though our room fees included dinner. Read more...

Walking into the breakfast-room of a vegan health retreat a decade ago I was greeted by a morning challenge - "Yah, you can ask Mimi, she believes!!!" My cover was about to be blown. When asked to my profession in such places I would never say "Rabbi" or articulate the words "Mysticism" or "Kabbalah," for such words would kill my private time while flying or being on retreat. Read more...