Category Archives: Uncategorized

Five Daughters (Pinchas) and upcoming classes

Posted on July 10, 2020 by

Corona days 2020: an article somewhere states that for some, shul is like a coffee shop, and should have that high of a priority when considering what should be or stay open nowadays. That high? What does that say about … Continue reading →

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Shabbat Balak – turning curses to blessings, then and now

Posted on July 3, 2020 by

Such a good Shabbat it is, when the Torah portions of the Diaspora and Eretz Yisrael come together. Such a good Shabbat when the daf, the daily page, is full of stories that feel like from my kids’ children’s books, … Continue reading →

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Chukat: Vahev & Suphah – Love and Dispute – ?

Posted on June 26, 2020 by

Just like that, between last week and this one (actually between chapter 19 and 20) Almost 40 years have gone by. The People are inching towards the Promised Land, experiencing amazing feats, and among it all, a seemingly insignificant few … Continue reading →

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Korach, his congregation & the Hope

Posted on June 19, 2020 by

כָּל מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם. וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, אֵין סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם. אֵיזוֹ הִיא מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זוֹ מַחֲלֹקֶת הִלֵּל וְשַׁמַּאי. וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זוֹ מַחֲלֹקֶת קֹרַח וְכָל עֲדָתוֹ: Every dispute that is for the sake of Heaven, … Continue reading →

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Have you looked to the sky today? הסתכלת לשמים היום? Tractate Shabbat 98-99

Posted on June 12, 2020 by

The Talmud as a painter; or photographer; seeing images and speaking in pictures… so often the discussion is legalistic and detailed, hard to follow and tedious, then suddenly, an a gentle portrait. We’re talking about carrying between one domain and … Continue reading →

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Shabbat Naso-Be’ha’alotcha: more than nothing

Posted on June 5, 2020 by

He was 8 years old at the time; his dad a reputable businessman with several academic and professional degrees. They went out for ice-cream and games in the park, telling imaginary stories and enjoying music on the radio, both decently … Continue reading →

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Empty out to bring something new for this Chag Shavuot

Posted on May 28, 2020 by

Every so often, through the miracles of the internet, I chance upon “old” photos, from 3-6-12-24.. months ago and even more… photos with people hugging, leaning, sitting shoulder to shoulder… everything is back to normal. Almost. I am walking down … Continue reading →

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Kindness + Kingdom = Yom Yerushalayim

Posted on May 22, 2020 by

We’re in the last week of “The Omer”, or the period of the counting of the Omer, between Pesach and Shavuot. The Kabbalists consider it a special time of inner growth and describe how every week is associated with one of … Continue reading →

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Counting as a Sign of Love: Emor, Behar & the 39 melcahot

Posted on May 15, 2020 by

Counting is an act of love. Initially this statement might not sound so good. It stands in contradiction with what we have been taught and therefore think of love: Love should be free, flowing, feely, not measured… Brrr… I think … Continue reading →

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Masks & Music: Pesach Sheni, Parshat Emor, Taste of Daf

Posted on May 8, 2020 by

Erev Pesach Sheni. Near Tzefat, people are celebrating at the gravesite of Rav Yehuda bar Ila’ee, a sage of the Mishna era, around the second century. Chairs are 2 meters (6’) apart, masks on face, and yet, they manage inspiring … Continue reading →

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