Thoughts on Parashat Kedoshim 5784

Kedoshim tihiyu – You shall be holy (Leviticus 19:2) – that’s how our this week’s parashah, Kedoshim, begins. The opening verses are immediately followed by a set of laws that define what does it mean to be ‘holy’ in our tradition: it means honoring parents, observing shabbat, not getting involved in idolatry, not turning to ghosts or inquiring of spirits, all kinds of things our ancestors learned in Egyptian slavery as well as some pretty specific law like:[…]

Thoughts on Parashat Pesach

R. Yehuda says: When the Israelites stood at the Red Sea, one said: “I do not want to go down to the sea first,” the other said, “I do not want to go down to the sea first,”… While they were standing arguing, Nachshon the son of Aminadav jumped up first and went down into the water and fell into the waves…

At the same time Moses was standing and reciting long prayers before God. Then God said to him, “Moses, my friend is sinking in the water and the sea is closing in on[…]