How many times has a teacher, website, or flyer promised to reveal to you The True Meaning of Hanukkah? How…
Year: 2012
Hiding My Secrets
Jacob has a secret spiritual name. It’s Shemesh, sun. But Joseph figures it out. Allusions to the sun frame the…
Holy, Holy, Holy Mom
During the Shabbat morning prayer service, I’m not always praying. To clarify: When I’m leading Shabbat morning services, I am…
Biblical Genealogy is Fun
Do Biblical genealogies make your eyes glaze over? This week’s Edomite genealogy, filled with subtle treasures, just might change your…
Expectations (Short Version)
After Jacob dreams of a ladder connecting heaven and earth, he vows: If God will be with me, and watch…
Nonviolent Wisdom
Face it. The world is run by people. And we know how people’s minds work. Plato explained it in the…
Jacob's Name: Bad or Good?
Next, his brother came out [of the womb], his hand holding Esav’s heel (ekev), so they called his name Jacob…
Potential
At the first meeting of Or Shalom’s adult bnei mitzvah class, my co-teacher Susan S. and I invited students to…
Accepting Flawed Ancestors
According to the Orthodox Stone Edition Chumash, we should be careful about identifying too closely with our ancestors. Our ancestors…