Remember when we used to congregate together in our synagogues, at the Jewish Community Center, at restaurants, in movie theaters and in other such meeting places? Remember when people wearing masks were usually about to commit a crime rather than protect...
On the heels of the molten beast, we slipped. Make us a god, we said last week, because that man who led us out of Egypt, we don’t know what became of him (Exodus 32:1). Did we want a god, or did we want a leader? Rashi taught that we were confused;...
This coming Shabbat, Jews the world over will be blessed with a uniquely “thick” liturgical experience. In addition to a lengthy Torah reading spanning the two concluding sections of Sefer Shemot (Exodus) — the double portion of VaYakhel and...
On the heels of the molten beast (make us a god, we said last week, because that man who led us -- we don't know what became of him). Did we want a god or did we want a leader? What kind of leader? A master of ceremonies leader or someone to sit over...
In this week's Torah portion Vayakhel, we read Moses' account of all of the things that God has commanded concerning the building of the Mishkan (sanctuary), the donations that followed, and about the actual work of construction. Inspired by God's statement...
While I was still a student, I entered into an e-mail-based discussion with other rabbis on the concept of the rabbinic day off, meaning whether or not we should have one. The discussion was more evenly split than you thought. The senior rabbi of...
