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Author Archives: Aleinu
Thoughts on Shabbat Nachamu
Last week (Saturday evening through Sunday evening) was Tisha b’Av, one of the saddest times on the Jewish calendar. This is the day that traditionally both Temples were destroyed, and historically numerous other atrocities have befallen the Jews throughout the … Continue reading
Thoughts on Tisha b’Av
Almost three weeks ago, on the 17th of Tammuz, many Jews in Israel and around the world began the countdown to the most devastating time in Jewish history, Tisha b’Av. Traditionally, on the 17th of Tammuz 587 BCE, the armies … Continue reading
Thoughts on Masei
The journey or its conclusion, which is most important? There is not an either-or answer but, as with many other questions in life, it is gam v’gam, this and also this– as both the journey and the destination (or goal) are … Continue reading
Thoughts on Pinchas
Have you ever looked back on some of your prayers and then immediately went into ecstatic praise because Hashem chose not to answer them? Do you remember Moshe’s prayer during one of the numerous episodes of Bnei Yisrael’s grumbling over … Continue reading
Thoughts on Balak
The weekly Torah reading is Balak, Numbers 22:1 – 25:9.* The haftarah is Micah 5:6 – 6:8 and the reading from the Apostolic Writings is John 16:29–33. Parashat Balak has always intrigued me. It begins with Balak, the Moabite king … Continue reading
Thoughts on Chukat
This week’s Torah reading is Chukat, Numbers 19:1–22:1.* The haftarah is Judges 11:1–33 and the Apostolic Writings is from John 16:12–28. During last week’s discussion of Korach, it was brought up that the punishments and the sheer number of deaths … Continue reading
Thoughts on Korach
This week’s reading is Korach, Numbers 16:1–18:32. The haftarah is 1 Samuel 11:14–12:22, and the Apostolic Writings is John 15:1–17. * The three readings this week contain a series of choices, each with long term repercussions. The Torah portion begins … Continue reading
