Barred entry into the Promised Land, Moses is buried on a mountaintop. The end? The end, for the Torah Portion V’Zot HaBerachah, actually marks the beginning. In their infancy, legacies are fragile. Upon one’s death, their legacy becomes detached from the person. They no longer are able to control what they once controlled. The seedContinue reading “A Legend Preserving a Legacy? V’Zot HaBerachah: A Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Category Archives: deuteronomy
Peak Justice or Cognitive Disaster? Vayelech
Ignorance of the law is no excuse While a Torah Portion Vayelech Commandment is symbolically magnificent, in modernity it presents as a pedagogical disaster. The utopian directive, on paper, delivers knowledge of the law to the entire populace. From a cognitive science perspective, however, the commandment is a failure. Can this problematic teaching methodology explainContinue reading “Peak Justice or Cognitive Disaster? Vayelech”
Nitzavim: Of Rabbit Holes & Rashi: A Ten Commandments’ Moment
The Torah Portion Nitzavim starts with a beautiful passage advancing the Ten Commandments’ collective nature. This post explores whether the collective theme’s passage contains a hidden message. The Nitzavim passage is as follows: “You’re standing today, all of you, in front of the Lord, your God- your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers,Continue reading “Nitzavim: Of Rabbit Holes & Rashi: A Ten Commandments’ Moment”
The Chosen People? Ki Tavo’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
“The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for it is not you whom they have rejected, but it is Me whom they have rejected from reigning over them….. So are they doing to you, as well. And now, heed their voice, but beContinue reading “The Chosen People? Ki Tavo’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Beyond The Ten Commandments: Devarim
A society cannot function on the Ten Commandments exclusively. This assertion should not be controversial. It was Moses, the Mt. Sinai Decalogue Deliverer, expressing this within in the Book of Deuteronomy. He confesses it within the Torah Portion Devarim. During the wilderness wandering, Moses grew to understand that leading a mixed multitude required more thanContinue reading “Beyond The Ten Commandments: Devarim”
O. T. Gaslighting: D’varim
“And I said to you, “Don’t be scared and don’t be afraid of them. The Lord, your God, who is going in front of you, He will fight for you- like everything that he did with you in Egypt before your eyes.” Deuteronomy 1:29-30 Gaslighting is an ubiquitous phrase. Especially during this election year, everyContinue reading “O. T. Gaslighting: D’varim”
Moore (Family) Justice: A Ten Commandments’ Tale
you shall not pervert justice; you shall not show favoritism…. Justice, justice shall you pursue deuteronomy 16: 19-20 the moore family and their supporters scored one of the greatest victories in california criminal justice history. they took on the los angeles county sheriff’s department, the los angeles country district attorney, and the entire state ofContinue reading “Moore (Family) Justice: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
Children Hear Everything: The Legend of “Char Man”: A Ten Commandments’ Tale
children hear EVERYTHING. i learned it the hard way. i got burned. for children, summer overnight camp is magical experience. my opportunity came only once. our family ran a tight budget. as a result, each child got one shot at it. the month was filled with activities, learning and religious practice. during that month, iContinue reading “Children Hear Everything: The Legend of “Char Man”: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
Hear O’ Minor: “Listen”
in the torah. god makes a big point about people listening. one of torah’s most important sentences begins “hear o’ israel.” deuteronomy 6:4. it is the pronouncement of the one god and is known as the “shema.” through jewish religious services, it is repeated many times. perhaps, it is because god knows that humanity hasContinue reading “Hear O’ Minor: “Listen””
Is There An Effort Gap?
we decry gaps. educational gaps, equity gaps, medical gaps, racial gaps, wealth gaps, trade gaps, etc. we rarely decry about the “effort gap.” effort gaps are often discussed in the sports’ world. scoreboards sometime evidence this diminished effort. individual’s personal worlds do not have scoreboard to judge effort. effort indicators such as school grades, testContinue reading “Is There An Effort Gap?”
The Ten Commandments Project 