Acharei/Omer – The Line Between Fear and Reverence — By Ben
The Torah portion Acharei Mos, begins with reminding us of the death of Nadav and Avihu, Aharon’s two oldest sons who died in parshas Shimini. It is probably not a […]
Category Archives: Parsha
What Thoughts and Prayers are Worth — By Ben
There is a cycle in this country. A tragedy strikes a community and after an increasingly short grieving period, both sides of the political divide make some sort of comment. […]
Refusing Greatness at the Burning Bush — By Ben
I was recently working with a Bar Mitzvah student on a speech for Shemos, when we started discussing Moses and God at the burning bush. God calls on Moses to […]
Is Peace in the Family an Act of Futility? — By Ben
There’s no doubt that family can be a major source of anxiety, frustration, and worry. Parents may be quick to offer unsolicited advice, siblings can hold long standing grudges, and […]
When Pain Makes it Impossible to Pray to God — By Ben
Just the other day my best friends had a bris for their son and my wife and I were honored with the ritual of kvater. If you’re not familiar, the […]
Reading Shoftim at Jury Duty — By Ben
I find it interesting that during the week of the Torah portion of Shoftim, literally judges, I happen to be at the LA county courthouse for jury duty. Clearly Hashem […]
Shema – Two Ways to Learn — By Ben
In the past I’ve discussed the differences between the first paragraph of Shema and the second. The first paragraph is generally referred to as the V’ahavta, while the second paragraph […]
Stumbling Blocks, the Blind, and Political Correctness — By Ben
This week’s Torah portion has concepts that are real winners. Some of its verses are so popular other religions and even the secular world can be found quoting them. Among […]
Screenwriting, Salvation, and Splitting of the Sea — By Ben
It can be difficult to wrap our heads around the concept of salvation. Sure we’ve all had moments where we feel like we’ve dodged a bullet. We didn’t study enough […]
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 