Shabbos Zachor – Remember to Forget — By Ben
This Shabbat is a special one. Known simply as Shabbos Zachor, it’s a uniquely chosen week where we connect to the holiness and compassion of our infinite Creator by remembering […]
Category Archives: Posts by Ben
Terumah – Torah is Out Of Order
Parshas Terumah begins the first of four Torah portions that discuss the portable sanctuary known as the Mishkan (or Tabernacle.) These are very intricate parshas that detail everything from how […]
Mishpatim – How Could a Nation of Slaves Own Slaves? — By Ben
The abolition of slavery is one of the benchmarks of mankind’s progression towards enlightenment and humanity. So to look at the Torah, which not only allows for slavery but instructs you how to […]
Lady Bird and My Struggles with Identity — By Ben
Note: Spoilers ahead. “Do I look like I’m from Sacramento?” Lady Bird asks her mother in the opening line of the film. “You are from Sacramento,” she replies. Right from the […]
Destructive vs Productive Unity – Video — By Ben
This week Ben is doing a video blog. If you’d like to read more on unity, click here.
Bo – A Plague of Darkness
The ninth plague to ravage Egypt was חֽשֶׁךְ. Darkness. Now we tend to think of darkness as the absence of light, the way cold is the absence of heat. But if you […]
Mercy Vs Justice : Names of God — Va’eira — By Ben
I had an English teacher in 9th grade who delighted in making fun of us in front of the whole class. I remember one time he knocked Yuriy Teslyar’s notebook […]
The Luxury of Pessimism – Shemos — By Ben
Imagine you go to the grocery store to pick up a bottle of wine for Shabbos dinner. You’re going to run in, grab the wine, and pay for it. […]
Mixed Blessing – Vayechi — By Ben
It’s a Shabbos meal. There’s the vibrance of the candles, the welcoming songs, and the beauty of the home. But just before the host makes Kiddish, the parents take a […]
Unlikely Success and The Disaster Artist – Vayigash
You may or may not be aware of the bizarre 2003 cult classic film, The Room. (Not to be confused with Room, the 2015 Oscar nominated masterpiece). The Room was a passion project of […]
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 