Dreams are symbolic communications. And, as Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman says, “Symbols symbolize.” That is, they don’t have a specific fixed…
Category: Torah
Free on-line course: Perek Shira, Song of the Land
Please join me—and my co-teachers—for a free on-line course this June. We’ll explore ecological wisdom from three perspectives: ancient Jewish,…
Grief Redeemed: Jacob and Joseph and Me
My brother Freddy holding infant me. He died 7 weeks later. There are two verses in Torah, in Parshat Vayigash…
Maoz Tzur: Hidden Story of the Hymn
Maoz Tzur. Your favourite Hanukah song—or not. But likely the one you know best. But do you know the full…
Hanukah: Not by Might but by Spirit
This Hanukah, I’ll be sharing one favourite teaching per day. Here’s Day 1: Hanukkiah. The eight-branched menorah we light at…
Canada's Jews: Diverse Views on Israel
Canada’s Jews: what are our attitudes towards Israel? A new study was released in December 2024. A new study of…
Economics of Creation: Torah's First Vision
Economics in Genesis / Bereisheet. You may know that Genesis tells two distinct creation stories. But did you know that…
Monstrous Other: A Case Study
Animals in Deuteronomy. How does Moses, the narrator, see them? As Other than human, mostly. And mostly not in a…
Magic Snakes (Chukat)
Magic. Sometimes the Torah condemns it. But sometimes the Torah condones it. Like in Parshat Chukat, for example. Magic in…