Big Ideas from the Torah

B’midbar (Numbers) You know me: I’m a pretty classic Type A personality. I thrive on plans, schedules, and knowing what comes next. I have lists…

Vayikra (Leviticus) Imagine if someone told you that buried within the most tedious, ritual-obsessed book of the Bible lay one of history’s most radical political…

Vayikra (Leviticus) You know those most difficult two words: “I’m sorry”? Allan Bridge, a New Yorker in the 80s, devised a genius solution. He set…

Shmot(Exodus) I’ll admit it … my favorite reels on social media feature kids doing crazy things. Sometimes they’re cursing (yup, that’s so funny!) Sometimes they’re…

Shmot(Exodus) It’s a strange thing to say, but I’m happy when I see blatant anti-Semitism. “Happy” is of course in quotes, but my point is…

  Shalom Friends! I love encountering new teachings! Thanks again to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l (Studies in Spirituality), my understanding of the biblical Abraham has…

Shalom Friends! I’ve always been a bit confused by the biblical character of Noah. On the one hand, he saves humanity and the animal kingdom…

Shalom Friends! Remember that icebreaker question: which of the five senses would you choose to live without? Most of us value seeing over all the…

Shalom Friends! I’m excited to continue teaching from the works of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l. We’re moving onto his book, Studies in Spirituality, published in…

During Covid, we learned the concept of social distancing … of being separate even when we’re together. Spiritually, there is also the concept of loneliness…

The fourth book of the Torah which we read during the Spring and early Summer, can seem like a transition period. The Israelites are on…

Once we get into the third book of the Torah, we don’t hear much about the personal lives of the Israeliltes.  And yet, at the…

My son came home after an event recently and asked, “Do you think religion has been an overall net positive or net negative for humanity?”…

One of the most perplexing details of the Book of Exodus is that God hardens Pharaoh’s heart. In the middle of the Ten Plagues, after…

God’s Hebrew name is always a tough one. God is referred to with many words: Adonai (my Lord), Elohim (plural of gods), Avinu (our Father),…

  A friend recently said to me that she envies people who have faith. It seems so comforting and clear. How nice it would be…

  I don’t like to be told what to do. How about you? A friend and I were just talking about setting our workout routines…

  We reviewed last month that Moses becomes a teacher at the end of his life and encourages the Israelites to “choose life.” It seems…

  Shalom Friends, Welcome back to our Neshamah community and your Jewish home.  I’ve decided to return to our foundation and focus on the Torah.…