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What if… (the Torah portion of Shoftim)

There are many questions for which I have quick answers (‘Ima, did you see my shoes?’) and some which I have to look up (‘how does ra, re’a, ro’e and ra’ayon all connect’?). But recently I was confronted with one … Continue reading

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Seeing is Believing?

I do not like TV, and there is no nice way to say it. yes, I know here and there, there are good shows, but on the whole… Last night, I wrote down what commercials we’re bombarded with in a … Continue reading

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Al Hamatzav (the situation) & Some Torah

Just today the U.S. Senate approved another aid package for Israel’s Iron Dome, and a UN representative immediately asked what about Iron Dome for the people in Gaza.  Well, well. Under the “twin siblings’ phenomena”, whatever mom gives the one child, … Continue reading

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Peace be the Journey

 When you’re on the road, time changes shapes and forms. It’s easy to lose count of days. Weeks seem like days. Days seem like weeks. One travels far in order to say, this looks like somewhere else’, said Yehuda Amichai. … Continue reading

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Pinchas: a model to what not to do

Whoever divided this and last week’s Torah portion must be the spiritual great, great grandparent of modern day suspense movies. Last week, we left the Children of Israel in the middle of a turmoil. After Bil’am’s failure to curse the … Continue reading

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Hope: some day it’s all we got

A whole nation held her breath for 18 days, hopeful. “To be a realist in Israel, one must believe in miracles”, said Israel’s first primeminister David Ben Gurion, and this is how we grow up, this is what we teach: … Continue reading

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Chukat: The Copper Snake – נחש הנחושת

The midrash tells us that the first human spent his time giving names to the animals. In Hebrew, of course, and he had fun playing with the letters and roots to convey their core essence. Take for example the dog, … Continue reading

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Hey, Korach!

Three kids were on route home a week ago and since then we’re holding our breath. There is nothing to say, but pray. May we hear good news soon. * * * * * * * This week I had … Continue reading

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Our Seeing Organ? Not What We Thought!

Long ago and far away, people used to tie a knot in their handkerchief to make sure they didn’t forget something important. Today, while tying a “Kleenex” is pretty much impossible, there is a website called “KnottedHandkerchief” that sends reminder … Continue reading

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Water Fights on Shavuot?

Water fights to celebrate Shavuot? Yes, that’s what was done in some North African communities; true, summer has arrived and it was fun to cool off, but why then, davka on Shavuot? More serious commentators and historians explain that it … Continue reading

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