Like Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Zelophachad in this week’s Torah reading had five daughters and no sons. Rather than singing “Tradition,” they challenge the laws of the past that only acknowledge sons as tribal heirs. Law and tradition unfold. Judaism has changed across the generations. Justice has demanded reevaluation. In our community, women…
“Holy, Holy, Holy,” the angels chant in praise of God in the prophet Isaiah’s vision (6:3). As we echo those words in our kedushah prayer we go up on our toes signifying that God is uniquely elevated. Korach leads a rebellion against Moses, his fellow Levite. His challenge focuses on holiness: “You have gone too…
Dear Fellow Congregants, As noted in my previous letter, Rabbi Spitz will be going on Sabbatical starting in October and we are busy planning. We anticipate a year of exciting teaching and learning. I want to take this opportunity to introduce the talented group of guest Rabbis that will fill in while he is on…
What went awry? Contemporary Biblical scholar, Avivah Zornberg, faults Moses’ instructions. The Israelites “broke into loud cries and wept all night” (Numbers 14:1) in response to the report of the scouts. The goal of their mission was to prepare the Israelites to fulfill a long awaited goal: taking possession of the Promised Land. Instead, the…
Dr. Abraham Twerski, a Hasidic rabbi and psychiatrist, uplifts me with memories of our times together and through his writing on both the nature of addiction and the wisdom of the Jewish tradition. Dr. Twerski’s words resonate because I identify his life’s work and personality with compassion, humility, and integrity. In his book, Living Each Week,…
In this week’s Torah reading we are offered a three-fold, priestly blessing that begins, Yeverachecha Adonai VeYeshemerach- May God bless you and protect you (Numbers 6:24). Isaac Abravanel (15-16th century, Spain-Italy) understood this blessing as cautionary: May God give you material abundance and protect you from the possessions possessing you. We run the risk of obsessively gathering…