We are now in the fourth week of what is known as the counting of the omer. This signals that we are about halfway between Passover and Shavuot, the next pilgrimage festival. Another way to look at this is that Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt and, according to rabbinic tradition, Shavuot celebrates the receiving of the Torah at Sinai-we are then halfway between Egypt and Sinai. This journey from Egypt to Sinai is arguably the defining narrative of the Jewish people. Read more...

Toward the end of Parashat Behar, the section of the Torah that we read this coming Shabbat, the Torah speaks of our need to redeem Israelites who, due to their poverty, put themselves into slavery. And these specific commands are quite consistent with the Torah's commandments elsewhere. God says, "For it is to Me that the Israelites are servants. They are My servants, whom I freed from the Land of Egypt, I, the Holy One, your God (Lv 25:55)." Read more...

At its outset, today's Torah portion states that "The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai" and then commences a detailed exposition of the laws of the Shemittah--the seventh year, in which the land must lie fallow as testimony to God's exclusive ownership of all. Read more...

"If your kinsman, being in straits, comes under your authority, and you hold him as though a resident alien, let him live by your side: do not exact from him advance or accrued interest, but fear your God. Let your brother live by your side." (Leviticus 25:35-36) Read more...

One of my favorite times of the year is early fall, when the leaves start changing colors and begin falling off the trees. And, as the winds shift, one can listen to the blowing of the leaves as they shuffle together creating a symphony of natural music. Even living in Southern California where we don't always experience the same change of seasons, I still think of that time as one of soothing comfort and promise and rebirth Read more...