"Tell Me If You’ve Heard This One Before"
We get a double portion of Torah this week, comprised of the portions Matot and Mas'ei, and bringing us to the final stage of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land.
Moses’s Bravest Move
As a cantor, I have sat with families after an elderly parent or relative has died and seen their frustration and struggles when the relative has made no preparations for the end of their life.
“What Are You So Mad About?”
Balak, the Moabite king, has a problem: the Israelites are encamped nearby, and he's nervous about enemies on his doorstep. He's got an army, but to secure his advantage he calls in a specialist, the star of this week's portion: Balaam the Sorcerer.
"Finding Freedom in Letting Go"
Our lived experience refutes the theory that sinners are punished and good people rewarded. Bad people sometimes succeed, good people face hardship, and most of us live somewhere in between, trying our best to live good lives, occasionally messing up and dealing with the consequences. This week's portion, Chukat, helps us imagine what we might do when those consequences are heavier than we expect - or deserve.
"Going Too Far for Fame"
The namesake of this week's portion, Korach, is a troublemaker. Moses has barely led the people past the crisis of faith incited by the scouts when Korach, along with 250 community leaders, rises up in rebellion against Moses and Aaron's leadership.
Give to the URJ
The Union for Reform Judaism leads the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America.