Tzav – When the Eternal Flame Goes Out
I grew up staring at an “eternal flame.” One day, it was gone.
It took me years to realize the lesson wasn’t that the flame failed, it’s that someone has to keep it alive.
Does Judaism Believe in Hell?
I always liked the idea that Judaism doesn’t have a hell. Eternal torture for believing the wrong thing always felt like a scare tactic. Except Judaism actually does have a hell. It’s called Gehinnom. But the Jewish understanding of it is very different from what most people imagine.
Ki Sisa – What Should Aharon Have Done?
The Gemara in Sanhedrin suggests that Aharon’s greatest strength, his pursuit of peace, actually led to his greatest mistake during the Golden Calf incident.
Megillas Esther – Why Mordechai Isn’t in the Title
Mordechai was one of the heroes of the whole Purim story. So why is his name missing from the title? This is the heartbreaking reason why Esther’s name stands alone.
Terumah – The Day That Annoying Kid Got Left Behind: How Abandonment Taught Me to Build Connection
The day I got left behind wasn’t really about abandonment.
It was about a kid who wanted to be heard — but never stopped to listen.
I’m starting to think that lesson wasn’t just about childhood but about my relationship with God.
Mishpatim: An Eye for an Eye or Making Things Right?
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” — Gandhi. It’s a great quote, but it might be based on a total misunderstanding of the text. From Finnish billionaires to concert pianists, here is why “Eye for an Eye” isn’t about taking… It’s about giving back.
Yisro – When Unity Becomes Dangerous
We talk a lot about unity as if it’s automatically good.
This week’s parshiyot suggest something more unsettling: unity can be powerful and destructive — depending on what it’s built on.
The Egyptian Converts Everyone Blames. Don’t Get Mixed Up.
The Sages blame many wilderness failures on the Erev Rav, the Egyptian converts.
But was this about scapegoating a group… or diagnosing influence?
What if the real danger wasn’t them, but what they mixed into us?
Bo – We Left Egypt. Did We Take the Bitterness With Us?
When the Israelites left Egypt, they chose to take the leftover maror with them. It wasn’t commanded. It was carried.
What we do with our pain after freedom might matter as much as how we survive it.
Va’eira – Did God Take Away Pharaoh’s Free Will?
Did God take away Pharaoh’s free will—or did he trap himself? Explore how pride and unchecked desire can weigh down the heart, even in the face of miracles.
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 