In this week's Torah reading both Miriam and Aharon die. Despite the difference in the description of their deaths, Rashi, quoting the Babylonian Talmud (Mo'ed Katan, 28a), teaches us that she too was among the seven that died 'al pi Hashem' / by the mouth of God. This is considered to be the highest form of death, the easiest death. It is a death in which the image that is offered is that God, so-to-speak, inhales into God's-self the last breath of the person, as they exhale. Read more...

Growing up experiencing moments when I was forbidden to do something that at that time seemed unacceptable, I would challenge my mother: "But why..." Her classic response was "Do you want me to write you a letter?!" as if telling me that what she said should be sufficient. But I always wondered what that letter would say. How would she explain reality differently, or perhaps, how would I experience reality differently. Read more...

Jews understand that ours is a religion that celebrates life. Our toast at a simcha, L’Hayim! means “To Life!” and it expresses the love of this life that our faith inculcates. God said that creation is tov me’od, very good, and we Jews affirm God’s judgment by celebrating the gift of life each day and every moment. Read more...

The Torah, Rambam insists, is based on the idea of human freedom – were we not free to choose our future, to determine our own actions, then the idea of giving us commandments would make no sense, and rewarding or punishing us for our fidelity to God’s ideals would be morally and logically preposterous. For the great Medieval rabbi, human freedom is woven into the very fabric of creation. Read more...

Jews understand that ours is a religion that celebrates life. Our toast at a simcha, L’Hayim! means “To Life!”, and it expresses the love of this life that our faith inculcates. God said that creation is tov me’od, very good, and we Jews affirm God’s judgment by celebrating the gift of life each day and every moment. Read more...