Torah Portion: Lech Lecha, Genesis 12:1-17:27 The Eternal said to Abram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1.) …what is most striking here is the indeterminacy of the journey....

Gratitude.  It is a value that we inculcate in our children from early on.  When they receive a gift, they are told to say “thank you.”  Later, we teach them to write a thank you card.  Gratitude is a basic social necessity and nicety.In this...

During this season of the Jewish High Holidays, it is our responsibility to do tshuvah (repentance).  Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur there are 10 days called Aseret Yemei Tshuvah or the Ten Days of Repentance.  It is this time when we focus on...

Today, all of you are standing before the Eternal your God…in order to establish you this day as God’s people and in order to be your God…  I [God] make this covenant, with its sanctions, not with you alone, but both with those who are standing...

Here’s a tough one: What about stoning a rebellious kid? When a man has a son who is stubborn, and a rebel one who does not listen to the voice of his father or the voice of his mother — and they discipline him and he still does not listen to them...

When it comes to politics, does money talk, and if it does, is that a good thing? In the relatively recent landmark decision of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court’s majority answered affirmatively, arguing that money is...

The Sages of Rabbinic Tradition posit that there are 613 Mitzvot (Commandments) and that each of these Divine Decrees finds its origin in a particular scriptural verse*1. And though generally speaking the proof-texts cited appear plausible, I never cease...

In her powerful book, “Kitchen Table Wisdom,” Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen writes: “I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen.  Just listen.  Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is...

Many years ago when I was a hospital chaplain providing pastoral care to Jewish patients and residents of all of the local hospitals and nursing homes in the Denver area, I met a young woman in a locked psychiatric unit who had attempted suicide.  I...

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London are something that I have been looking forward to for some time. The competition and sporting feats are intriguing and exciting to follow, but what also draws me to be a big fan is the “Olympic Spirit.” Every four...