Rabbi Elazar said, “Whoever counts the people of Israel transgresses a negative commandment, for it is stated by the prophet…
Category: Torah
Secrets of Teaching
“Should we offer the best classes we can, or teach adults to become independent learners of Jewish texts?” So my…
Yesod: Cohen on Peace
Sixth week of the Omer count: An opportunity to reflect on Yesod: Foundation In today’s “postmodern” intellectual climate, philosophers like…
Hod: Two Philosophers, Two Qualities
“To you God, belongs greatness, strength (gevurah), beauty (tiferet), eternity (netzach) and splendour (hod), because…well, everything in heaven and on…
Anointed by Synchronicity
Synchronicity, as defined by Carl Jung, occurs when two or more events are connected by their meanings — though not…
God's Kitchen
I miss Donna’s kitchen, so far away in North Carolina. Any afternoon or evening, any time, with or without kids,…
A Grandmother's Wisdom
My mother’s mother died long before I was born, so I never met my grandmother. She seems to have been…
Hiding Behind the Veil
After God passes the Divine goodness by Moses, Moses dons a veil. From that day on, he unveils his face…
Real Religious Differences
Every year, I laugh out loud at this week’s Torah reading, the crossing of the Red Sea. There Moses stands,…