At that time many who sought righteousness and justice went out into the wilderness… 1 Maccabees 2:29 Do societies have breaking points? Can there be immovable cries of ‘enough is enough!’? If so, are leaders involved? Do these leaders possess unique capacities and characteristics? The answers to these questions begin with the Torah Portion Vayishlach.Continue reading “Vayishlach:The Line”
Category Archives: aaron
Hitting the Goat Lottery? Yom Kippur’s Torah Portion
Can two goats and three High Holiday Torah Portions unlock atonement’s mechanics? In this instance, a Three-of-a-Kind meeting a Two Goat Lottery sheds light. Some of the Hebrew Bible’s most troubling of tales unlocks an atonement tool. Atonement The Hebrew Bible’s focus on truth, justice and righteousness fails to completely address Atonement. Atonement is arguablyContinue reading “Hitting the Goat Lottery? Yom Kippur’s Torah Portion”
Shemini: A High Standard?
I grew up in an intoxicated world known as Los Angeles. More likely than not, my contemporaries used drugs and alcohol. Junior High School was when the abuse originated. I recall one classmate having a cornucopia of drugs stored a tin which was then housed in her locker. For another, I recall that even hisContinue reading “Shemini: A High Standard?”
Welcome to The Inner Circle? Tzav
For Kohens-Priestly descendants- the Torah Portion Tzav may be riveting. For commoners, Tzav, a section full of priestly sacrificial instructions and intricacies, is less so. Many find it a painful read. For millennia, the Book of Leviticus- which includes Tzav- has exposed outsiders to the Israelite cult’s affairs. Tzav even takes readers to the innerContinue reading “Welcome to The Inner Circle? Tzav”
No To Recycling? Eikev
How is the human spirit tied to inanimate objects? And what does it have to do with recycling? The Torah Portion Eikev enlightens us on both queries. Eikev touches upon the interplay between idolatry, recycling and human thought. The human psyche is profoundly impacted by material objects; even something as simple as a glass ofContinue reading “No To Recycling? Eikev”
The Art of Leading: Korach, A Ten Commandments’ Moment
” The Lord said to Moses: Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony as a keepsake [and] a sign for rebellious ones. Then their complaints against Me will end and they will not die.” Numbers 17:25 Shortly after passing the bar examination, lawyers are promptly sworn-in and can immediately practice law. Despite havingContinue reading “The Art of Leading: Korach, A Ten Commandments’ Moment”
The Big Kahuna Or Kehuna (כְּהֻנָּֽה)?
the torah portion korach- beginning at numbers 16- utilizes the word, כְּהֻנָּֽה, kehuna. hawaiian contains a similar word- kahuna. beyond sounding alike, their meanings bare similarity; in hebrew, kehuna refers to priesthood while the kahuna in hawaiian refers to a wise man or shaman. for some, being a kahuna is not enough. thus, we haveContinue reading “The Big Kahuna Or Kehuna (כְּהֻנָּֽה)?”
Unintended Success? Shemot 4:14-16: A Ten Commandments’ Tale
I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. Thomas Jefferson the torah’s multiple themes include both family relations and nation building. brotherhood also weighs heavy as a theme. brotherhood’s disastrous inception via cain and abel created a psychic wound on the master of the universe’s creation. despite amazing adviceContinue reading “Unintended Success? Shemot 4:14-16: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
Helping The Few To Help the Many? A Ten Commandments’ Tale
‘logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few… or the needs of the one’ Spock leonard nimoy lived in my neighborhood. walking to and from elementary school, i always have my eyes out for him as i passed by his residence. i was in “search for spock. ”Continue reading “Helping The Few To Help the Many? A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
No Dojo For You! The People Even Mr. Miyagi Couldn’t Save: Promised Land Syndrome: A Ten Commandment’s Tale
our resident sensei, mr. myagi, is all about having a foundation. he is all about not giving into fear. as mr. miyagi has expoused, one must conquer their fear and remember their roots which will lead to success. a pivotal moment in the ten commandments’ story was all about fear. moses was preparing the jewishContinue reading “No Dojo For You! The People Even Mr. Miyagi Couldn’t Save: Promised Land Syndrome: A Ten Commandment’s Tale”
The Ten Commandments Project 