Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

Rabbinic lore tells the story about a time, thousands of years ago, in the 2nd century, when there was a serious drought in ancient Israel. The people turned to their powerful and pious leader, Rabbi Eliezer, asking him to pray the prayers for rain. Having previously demonstrated the efficacy of his prayer, Rabbi Eliezer wanted to prove that he could make God act. So, he spent days in meditation, fasting, and preparation for praying for rain. When finally the time came, the community watched as he recited his prayers. But, no rain fell. Read more...

I've written in the past about my cycling. As a result of my time on the road, I've observed a fair amount of madness on our roads here in Los Angeles. Of late, I've been riding more indoors because of the distractedness and unpredictability of drivers. I've seen women putting on makeup and men shaving while driving. Texting and fiddling with a cell phone is the norm and disregarding the traffic signs is a given. Stop signs mean yield and 35 MPH really means no faster than 50, unless of course you're in a real rush! Read more...

There are certainly enough reasons to consume our lives with worry. Parents don't meet our needs fully; children don't quite live up to our expectations. Spouses are all too human. Read more...

Periodically, when drinking from a paper cup, I catch myself lifting the cup up and down. I see my hand, my fingers grasping the cup's base. I hear the sound of the cup as it's set back upon the table. A simple act, a habit, and a forgotten image of my Papa comes blowing over me like a soft summer's breeze blowing in the nights long ago. I recall at this moment that my Papa, my maternal grandfather, used to do this same thing. While we sat in his apartment he would often drink from a paper cup and he would lift his cup up and down, over and over again. Read more...

When the Lord enlarges your territory, as He has promised you, and you say, "I shall eat some meat," for you have the urge to eat meat, you may eat meat whenever you wish. If the place where the Lord has chosen to establish His name [the Temple in Jerusalem] is too far from you, you may slaughter any of the cattle or sheep that the Lord gives you, as I have instructed you; and you may eat to your heart's content in your settlements....But make sure that you do not partake of the blood, for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the life with the flesh. Read more...