Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

Every living thing exhibits a balance between alteration and continuity. A single cell, for example, takes in new substances (food, air, water) and remolds those building blocks to fashion its own form. At the same time that its constituents change, its shape remains the same. Persistence and change, it seems, are simply different phases of the same phenomenon, different faces of the same reality. One cannot successfully remain and thrive without an openness to change, and one cannot retain the energy and will to change without a commitment to something timeless and constant. Read more...

The movement from last week's Torah portion to this week's Torah portion seems to me quite abrupt and hastened when you think of moving from a golden calf to a mishkan / tabernacle made of elements gold and silver and the most magnificent fabrics. I would have thought that more than anything there would be fear and trepidation in the attempt to create anything concrete that had to do with God's manifestation in the world. Read more...

Sometimes, you find the most interesting things in the most mundane places. However, sometimes you find the most interesting things in the most interesting places. Read more...

This week we read the Torah portion of Tetzaveh, in which the Torah describes the elaborate details for the priestly vestments to be used in consecrating the High Priest for service. From the finest linen, richest stones, and majestic colors, the holy dress is to be made, including a robe, headdress, tunic, and breastplate. Read more...

It was an annual event in Elana's children's service at Ansche Chesed synagogue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where we used to be members. When it comes to explaining Torah and the weekly reading to the children, Elana is big on props and enactments. Hence, each year when Parashat T'rumah came around, we could rely on Elana to have fun with the verses which open the parashah: "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves him..."(Exodus 25:1-2). Read more...