See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me
“Magic mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”1
With these few words, I can evoke a familiar image within you—the evil queen of the “Snow White” story, who is immensely concerned with being the most beautiful woman in the land.
Who Is Required? Who Is Entitled? Who Is Excluded?
The third Book of the Torah, Leviticus (Vayikra), begins with a description of the olah (the burnt offering) brought by an individual Israelite.
Does God Have a Plan for You?
After receiving bad news or experiencing a tragic event, people will sometimes respond with the words, "It's God's will." There's even a Yiddish phrase that captures the idea, "It's bashert," meaning it was meant to be.
How Shall We Bless Those Who Come After Us?
According to Jewish tradition, on the eve of Shabbat and holidays, before reciting kiddush, parents bless their children.
Parashah Chayei Sarah: Coming Together as Family
Learn how to come together as a family in this teen-friendly commentary on Chayei Sarah.
Finding Faith After the Worst Loss
The spiritual center of Parashat Vayeishev is the picture of Jacob's anguish at the end of chapter 37: Old and now settled in the land of his father, Jacob, led by his sons to believe that he has suffered what one writer calls "the worst loss"--the death of a child, is plunged into despa
Who Is This God? “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh”
The Book of Exodus (Sh'mot) tells two key narratives of Jewish sacred history: the Exodus from Egypt and the gift of Torah. When they are joined to the Creation narrative of Genesis, the three stories constitute the basic theology of Judaism, which is enshrined in the blessings before and after the Sh'ma prayer.