ב"ה
Vayikra 5767 - March 23, 2007
Living
Are We Melting?
Listening to and reading all the predictions and prognostications of Global Warming can be downright depressing. Will we be saying goodbye to our world sometime soon?
Listening to and reading all the predictions and prognostications of Global Warming can be downright depressing. Will we be saying goodbye to our world sometime soon?
First-Class Stowaway
“Sir, you have a first-class ticket,” said the conductor. “Why you are lying under a bench in a third-class car?”
“Sir, you have a first-class ticket,” said the conductor. “Why you are lying under a bench in a third-class car?”
What's your Blind Spot?
One of the most important people to have in your life is a "mentor-friend": someone who truly has your best interests at heart, who will tell you what you're doing wrong
One of the most important people to have in your life is a "mentor-friend": someone who truly has your best interests at heart, who will tell you what you're doing wrong
Parshah
The Parshah in a Nutshell
G-d tells Moses about the sacrifices brought on the altar in the Sanctuary, including the meal offering, peace offering, offering of atonement, guilt offering and ascending offering.
G-d tells Moses about the sacrifices brought on the altar in the Sanctuary, including the meal offering, peace offering, offering of atonement, guilt offering and ascending offering.
The Shrinking of Man
Man has shrunk over the centuries. Suddenly there were all these other people and species dwarfing our significance. Our planet became an infinitesimal speck in a universe of mind-numbing vastness. Did we become humbler?
Man has shrunk over the centuries. Suddenly there were all these other people and species dwarfing our significance. Our planet became an infinitesimal speck in a universe of mind-numbing vastness. Did we become humbler?
Are You a Bull Or a Lamb?
Are you a goring bull, trampling on everyone and everything in its way? A meek, little lamb that timidly follows the crowd?
Are you a goring bull, trampling on everyone and everything in its way? A meek, little lamb that timidly follows the crowd?
Are You Really Planning to Bring Back Those Animal Sacrifices?
I can see the experiential quality of it all: an ancient temple with heavenly music and mystical song; priests in flowing robes deep in meditation; mesmerizing, choreographed ritual. But why the barbecue?
I can see the experiential quality of it all: an ancient temple with heavenly music and mystical song; priests in flowing robes deep in meditation; mesmerizing, choreographed ritual. But why the barbecue?
Parshah Parenting: A Great Smallness
As parents, we obviously believe that genuine self-esteem is important to our children’s psychological and spiritual development. But how can we avoid the hubris and laziness that invariably accompany an inflated self-image?
As parents, we obviously believe that genuine self-esteem is important to our children’s psychological and spiritual development. But how can we avoid the hubris and laziness that invariably accompany an inflated self-image?
The Offered Beast
Why, if a person sinned and wished to make atonement, or he was just in a generous mood and wished to offer something to G‑d, does he sacrifice an innocent animal? Why doesn’t he sacrifice himself, for example?
Why, if a person sinned and wished to make atonement, or he was just in a generous mood and wished to offer something to G‑d, does he sacrifice an innocent animal? Why doesn’t he sacrifice himself, for example?
The Gift
When no one was in the synagogue, he brought in the loaves under his cloak. He prayed that G‑d should look upon his offering with favor, and eat and enjoy the lovely, freshly baked bread . . .
When no one was in the synagogue, he brought in the loaves under his cloak. He prayed that G‑d should look upon his offering with favor, and eat and enjoy the lovely, freshly baked bread . . .
Chassidic Thought
What Is Freedom?
I work 12 to 14 hours a day. I have even less time than money. My obligations to family, work, and community are greater than any time in my life. Yet I have never been more free
I work 12 to 14 hours a day. I have even less time than money. My obligations to family, work, and community are greater than any time in my life. Yet I have never been more free
The Fifth Question
At the Passover seder, the child asks, and we answer. But there is another dialogue taking place -- a dialogue in which we ask, and the child explains
At the Passover seder, the child asks, and we answer. But there is another dialogue taking place -- a dialogue in which we ask, and the child explains
Self Do It
When those queasy feelings rise in me as I undertake a new challenge, I silently repeat to myself my 2-year-old's mantra of self do it! and picture her satisfied pride after she has mastered her task
When those queasy feelings rise in me as I undertake a new challenge, I silently repeat to myself my 2-year-old's mantra of self do it! and picture her satisfied pride after she has mastered her task
The Geometry of Freedom
The problem with most revolutions is that they are true revolutions -- revolve a full 360 degrees and the same ingrained patterns reassert themselves...
The problem with most revolutions is that they are true revolutions -- revolve a full 360 degrees and the same ingrained patterns reassert themselves...
What Kind of Freedom is this Anyway?
Passover is supposedly the festival of freedom from slavery. But it seems ridiculous to celebrate freedom by not eating bread!
Passover is supposedly the festival of freedom from slavery. But it seems ridiculous to celebrate freedom by not eating bread!
Women
A Fresh Beginning
I try to think back to yesterday, and in my tired, hazy, sleep-deprived state, a funny thing happens. I remember nothing. There is no yesterday . . .
I try to think back to yesterday, and in my tired, hazy, sleep-deprived state, a funny thing happens. I remember nothing. There is no yesterday . . .
In the month of Nissan the world was created; in Nissan the Partiarchs were born... In the month of Nissan our forefathers were redeemed [from Egypt] and in the month of Nissan we are destined to be redeemed
— Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 11a
Print Magazine
It’s G-d’s world. Everything He gives is good, the sweetest good.
But it is often a good far too great for us to understand. We imagine it is not good, because that’s the only way to make sense of it with our small minds.
Yet the truth is, He gives us all the good we can handle. If we could take more, He would g...
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