FJRP Blog

Thoughts on Parashat Chukat 5785

Moses and Aaron were probably the greatest Jewish leaders of all times. Both of them commit a sin in our parasha, are punished for it and die. What was their actual sin for which they were to die? Everyone who read or studied this story thinks they know and that it is obvious: they were both told to order the rock, to speak to the rock to yield water, but Moses instead struck the rock with his rod, and struck twice. But I don’t think that this most common explanation reflecting the pshat level – the simple, literal meaning of the story is valid. Why? Let me ask you a question: which of the laws of the Torah Moses and Aaron transgressed? Is there a law to prohibit striking the rock in order to get water from it? None that I know say anything like that. And that’s exactly the common explanation of what was[…]

Thoughts on Parashat Korach 5785

The name of our parshah refers to a man whose name was Korach, who headed the rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Korach incited a mutiny challenging Moses’ leadership and the granting of the kehunah (priesthood) to Aaron. He was accompanied by Moses’ inveterate foes, Dathan and Abiram and was joined by 250 distinguished members of the community, who offered the sacrosanct ketoret (incense) to prove their worthiness for the priesthood. At the end of this story the earth opens up and swallows the mutineers, and a fire consumes the ketoret-offerers.

Thoughts on Parashat Shelach 5785

Thursday, June 12, late afternoon. Rivkah and I are in Seattle, sitting at the restaurant nearby Pike Place Market. I looked at my phone and read the breaking news about the Israeli military campaign against the Iranian Islamic regime and their genocidal nuclear program. The news surprised me a bit – I didn’t expect it to happen so soon – but at the same time filled me with great hope. We were in the middle of our road-trip vacation, traveling across several states. And since this news broke out I have been spontaneously approached by at least 6 or 7 individuals, non-Jewish Americans, who expressed a complete support or full-blown admiration of the actions of the State of Israel and its military. Are you an Israeli? – asked a woman in the […]

Thoughts on parashat Nasso 5785

No matter if we are Reform, Conservative or Orthodox, there are at least two things that unite us all: 1. A common fate – we are all Jews at the end of the day, whether we like it or not. 2. We have at least one common goal – peace in the world. We differ in terms of visions of how to get there but the ultimate goal is the same and – what’s important – I believe – that the means we, Jews, undertake to achieve it are largely compatible.