Timeless Torah

Story: Loan against Mercedes. Everything has reason. Not always the real reason.
Parent explains to child…just not real reason.
That’s person to person. Imagine another species.
Goat to goat: The lady of the house drank our cholent water.  read more »

Unlike other cultures, Judaism worships the word, not the image. G-d, as encountered by the Patriarchs or the Israelites at Sinai, came not as a visible presence, but as a voice - challenging, and summoning. Listen how insistent Moses is on that point: “Then G-d spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no image; there was only a voice.”  read more »

Fanaticism is out. Radicals and extremes are unhealthy. Too far to the left is politically incorrect. But the again, so is too far to the right. Just ask Bill Clinton who understands our need to be centrist. Or refer to the growing number of moderates on both sides of the political debate. Middle of the road, might not be a good idea for those crossing a busy street, but in life that’s how you get ahead. So decrees contemporary society.  read more »

Although Judaism postulates belief in an Omnipotent and Omniscient Creator, it still ascribes the power of free choice to homo sapiens. This fundamental concept is clearly expressed in the opening words of this week's Torah portion, "Look, I give you this day a blessing and a curse. The blessing, that you will hearken to G-d's commandments…and the curse, if you will not hearken to G-d's commandments."  read more »

The overwhelming majority of G-d's commandments are addressed to the individual. There is no collective mitzvah to put on Tefillin, eat kosher, light Shabbat candles or affix a mezuzah. Exceptions exist, (especially in this week’s Biblical reading) which include the three laws that devolve upon the Jewish people after they enter the land of Israel. Number one was for the nation as a whole to anoint a king; number two, to destroy the tribes of Amalek, and finally to build together one Holy Temple.  read more »

Tucked away in today’s Torah reading, almost as an aside, is one of Judaism’s most majestic institutions, the principle of tzedakah. “If there is a poor man...in any of the towns of the land...do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted...rather, be open-handed...”  read more »

Once upon a time, a wealthy chassid received a letter from his Rebbe about a fellow chassid who was in desperate need of 200 rubles. True, the wealthy disciple regularly contributed to his Rebbe’s charitable activities, but this particular request arrived at a financially inconvenient time. After some deliberation, the chassid decided that he was unable to respond positively to the request.  read more »