Inside and Out
Focal Point
They shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold-overlay it inside and out-and make upon it a gold molding round about. (Exodus 25:10-11)
Sh'mini for Tots
A guide to help adults learn how to engage young children in a discussion about this week’s Torah portion.
Dust and Ashes--and Holy
Rabbi Simcha Bunam of Pzhysha once said to his students: "Everyone must have two pockets, so that he can reach into the one or the other, according to his needs.
The Role of Sacrifice
In T'tzaveh we read the commandment, "Now this is what you shall offer upon the altar: two yearling lambs each day, regularly" (Exodus 29:38). This was later called the tamid offering (daily burnt offering).
Ureem and Tumeem: A Model of Brotherly Love
Aaron and Moses: Two brothers with two different paths to greatness. Aaron was a prophet, preacher, and visionary, yet it was Moses, his younger brother, who was selected by God to lead the Israelites. Their relationship could have developed into a sibling rivalry without equal.
Hide and Seek
In discussions with pre-b'nei mitzvah students and parents every year, I ask how they would feel about someone attending services in ripped jeans. What about a woman wearing a dress or blouse showing cleavage? What is proper attire in a synagogue?