I Have (some) Sympathy for the San Mateo Murderers
Many, many years ago (so long ago that even recalling it today makes me embarrassed), I was, like many people, an awkward and fragile teenager. I took a risk, and approached an older (though still quite young) woman. She was everything I was not: at ease with herself, highly attractive, popular, and genuinely lovely. Alas,…
Why Do We Have Milk on Shavuos?
My brother pointed out that there is a very cool link between consuming milk products and the festival of Shavuos, which commemorates the revelation and giving of the Torah at Sinai. Milk is used by all mammals (and even pigeons and doves, the only birds we can bring as offerings), to invest in the next…
Why are Levites Special?
The Torah gives us census numbers for the tribes after they left Egypt. Among them, Levi is a standout, with far fewer people than any other tribe. The obvious question is, of course, “why?” Using the text itself, I have one answer that seems to make sense. When Levi is born, his mother, Leah, says,…
Focusing on the Right Things?
It is not polite to point out that people, if they do not have productive outlets, turn a little… nuts. Little girls crave dolls because they are driven to invest in others, and a doll will fill the gap. The desire to take care of babies is a deeply healthy and beautiful spiritual hunger; but…
My Problems With Job
The Book of Job is a deeply problematic text within the Jewish Canon. The book describes G-d inflicting undeserved punishment and suffering, which by itself is contrary to all the “reward and punishment” language of the Torah. But there is more. Beyond the singular challenge of G-d acting capriciously with mankind, I think there are…
Surrendering to Power
We do not have to look far to see how deeply people are attracted to power, unfettered and raw. We see it in sports – winning teams invariably have more fans. We thrill when we see domination. In some sports, that thrill can even be akin to bloodlust. We see it in world events, where…
Why Do Sunsets Matter?
A person who somehow has a blocked ability to spiritually elevate (often erroneously and clumsily translated to as “impure” or “unclean”) typically has to wash their body in water. But even after they have washed, they are not able to elevate until the sun sets. This is specifically cited twice in the Torah: The person…
The Holiness That Comes From Offering Bread
The Torah tells us that one of the reasons cohanim, priests, are to be sanctified is specifically because the priest offers the bread of your G-d (L. 21:8). Separately, the Torah tells us about offering bread to G-d: When you enter the land to which I am taking you, and you eat of the bread…
The Value of Indefinite Speech
When someone thinks they have been “touched” by G-d and now have the spiritual malady of tzaraas, then go to the priest, and they tell him so. At least, that is how it works for tzaraas of the body or of the clothing. These, presumably, reflect on a person’s personal behavior, and/or how they choose…
What Are We Supposed to Do With Time?
Judaism is legendary for always seeing the Big Picture. That probably comes with the territory – being one of the oldest religions in the world certainly can bring a sense of perspective. For us, the Big Picture is attained in part by always investing in the next generation, by seeing our lives as links in…
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