Parshah Columnists

Who could say, “No thank you, I don’t want to plug into the full meaning of the universe”?

The Tabernacle with which the Israelites sojourned through the desert was entirely level, why would the Temple in Jerusalem need to be different?

Perception has come to be synonymous with reality, but perception depends less on what we see than who we are.

As a marriage therapist, I advise clients to take the time to actively engage in positive daydreams about their marriage. Create positive visual images has a tremendous affect.

For better or for worse, meat is an undeniable favorite on the kosher menu. Is this good? Let’s have a look . . .

What better way to integrate my learning than to think about its implications in everyday life?

Internal voices compete for our ears, and countless other external voices chime in as well.

Moses spent 40 years teaching Torah and passing on the mitzvot with intricate detail. He transmitted the highly detailed laws of the sacrifices, including everything from which types of animals may be used to the location on the Temple where the animals should be offered. Yet the place where all this would happen is undisclosed.

In Judaism, the natural and the miraculous are not a dichotomy

Whether your life is a blessing or a curse can depend more on your own perspective than on the hard realities on the ground.

"He's stingy; Me? I'm just careful about how I spend my money..." "She's stubborn as an ox! Me? I am a determined person..."

"Everyone is obligated to give charity. Even people supported by charity must contribute from what they receive." A law that seems radical on the one hand, and absurd on the other...

“You are children to the L-rd your G-d.” If we are children to G-d, what is G-d to us?

Is it enough to feel deeply, passionately, and proudly about being Jewish, while not doing all that much on a regular basis, or do you have to do mitzvahs to be counted as a full member of the tribe?

“Rebbe, I don’t understand,” the disciple asked. “When you were here, your prayers protected us. But now that you are in heaven—and your spiritual power is even greater—all these terrible things are happening . . .”

Life can be seen as operating in two modes: immersion in the spiritual, and entry into the world and involvement with it

One of the birds which is described in this week's reading is the chassidah, the stork, regarding which the Talmud tells us, "she is benevolent toward her own kind." So why isn't thechassidah kosher?

Why would G‑d back up the false prophet by validating his prediction? Why would G‑d reward an immoral person with success? It makes us doubt the validity of our own moral compass.

Does the human being really enjoy freedom of choice? Is there really a difference between the human and all other creatures which G-d created, which are bound by their G-d-given nature—for better or worse?

So, at the risk of ending my career, I would like to share with you a wonderful piece of news: The world is becoming a very generous place. You want proof?

The next time you attend a backyard barbecue and see the meat sizzling on the grill, know that your soul is salivating as well.

I have a confession. I can’t stand to be thanked for giving charity. I just hate it when the person to whom I gave a dollar heaps lifelong blessings on me.

Living life just to serve myself isn’t just missing out on half of life’s equation. It’s worse, it’s a hollow lie.

Now, the term slave conjures horrible images of unfairness and maltreatment, and rightfully so. In light of the above, therefore, to translate "eved" as a slave would totally misconstrue the reality...

We have too much good in this world. More people are suffering from overeating than under eating. Yes, yes you can't leave something on your plate without thinking of the starving children in India

The Third Temple is not a building, but a state of harmony between G-d, humanity, and nature.

From man I expect good and bad. From G-d I expected only good. Until I learned about the animal sacrifices. Apparently G-d actually wants them. Imagine, a place set aside for slaughter -- in a temple!

Seven times the Torah warns the Jews who have left Egypt, “Quit it with the animal blood already!” To this second generation Moses says, “Be strong, and don’t consume blood.”

"Blessing" is a very important word. So is "Curse", "You" and "Today". But the most important word in the sentence is the three-letter verb that opens the parshah: "See"

Try ignoring your parents. Not only is it possible -- it often feels right and necessary. After all, they let you do it. Sometimes they even seem to want you to...

In choosing recovery over active addiction, we are not battling between two equal opposing forces. It's nothing more than a choice that exists in order to give meaning to our lives as sober people.

What was the Holy Temple? Why was it destroyed? Do we have anything like it today? Do we really want to see it rebuilt and bring back those animal sacrifices? Seventeen essays, articles and stories on the holiest place on earth

What is kosher? How to keep kosher? What does it mean? All that and more, including stories, essays, videos and classes.

Why does Moses emphasize joy specifically in the book of Deuteronomy?

Joy is not the first word that naturally comes to mind when we think of the severity of Judaism as a moral code or the tear-stained pages of Jewish history.

Who are we? Where are we? What are we trying to achieve and what kind of people do we aspire to be? These are the questions leaders help the group ask and answer.

There are precious stones that produce their own light from within. Then there are others that reflect light.