All that is gold does not glitter JRR Tolkien Years ago, a good friend invited me to a Hollywood Bowl concert. His box seats were close to the orchestra pit. Before Bowl peformances, it customary for box holders to picnicofteny bring out their fancy baskets and indulge in every imaginable delicacy and imbibe with fineContinue reading “Lasting Impressions: Eikev”
Category Archives: torah
Are All Commandments Equal?: Va’etchanan
The Torah houses the Decalogue. Thus, within the Pentateuch’s 613 Commandments, the Ten Commandments is a subset. The Decalogue’s location gives rise to an Orwellian query: “Are some Commandments more equal than others?” According to the Torah Portion Va’etchanan, the answer is “yes”. The Ten Commandments are different from the others. Moses explain why inContinue reading “Are All Commandments Equal?: Va’etchanan”
The Genesis of Problem Solving Part II
Spectacular problem solving led to the JPL’s Mars Rovers’ success. The Mission Designers and Planners exceeded expectations by considering every single contingency imaginable. As a result, some of these Red Planet space exploration devices continued providing data long past their anticipated expiration dates. The JPL staff truly deserved an award for outstanding achievement in theContinue reading “The Genesis of Problem Solving Part II”
Matot-Massei’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
Due to Judaism’s Lunar Calendar, the fifty-four Torah Portions get adjusted so all can be read annually. This year, to accomplish this, the Portions Matot and Massei are combined. Matot’s Ten Commandments’ moment involving vows and oaths is this Post’s topic. Vows Vows are essentially one’s word. What is the value of “one’s word”? ToContinue reading “Matot-Massei’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
In Justice: Pinchas
“Justice, Justice you shall pursue, so that you’ll live, and you’ll take possession of the land that the Lord, your God is giving you” Deuteronomy 16:20 Prior to Deuteronomy’s “justice” pronouncement, a particular family became embroiled in a property rights dispute. The legal decision’s implications were of nationwide interest. The Portion Pinchas describes the legalContinue reading “In Justice: Pinchas”
Balak’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
You shall not bring up the name of the Lord, your God, for a falsehood, because the Lord will not make one innocent who will bring up His name for a falsehood. Exodus 20:7 The Torah Portion Balak has this assertion: “Because I know that whoever you’ll bless will be blessed, and whoever you’ll curseContinue reading “Balak’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
The Leadership Trilogy Ends With Four Takeaways: Chukat
The apex of the Torah’s Leadership theme occurs with Moses caught in the Almighty’s crosshairs. The Portion Chukat concludes a three-part leadership masterclass. The trilogy includes the two preceding portions- Shelach and Korah. Those addressed a lower-level leadership crisis and a mid-level-leadership challenge respectively. The third masterclass installment addresses a chief executive fail. This postContinue reading “The Leadership Trilogy Ends With Four Takeaways: Chukat”
The Art of the Theme: Korah
You have so much! Because all of the congregation, all of them, are holy, and the Lord is among them. And why do you raise yourselves over the Lord’s community?” Korah speaking to Moses and Aaron Numbers 16:3 Social hierarchy is not exclusive to humans. The animal kingdom has a variety of species that areContinue reading “The Art of the Theme: Korah”
Separation of Power? Bechaalotecha
Institution powers “will find a way. ” Dr. Ian Malcolm’s “life finds a way” from Jurassic Park rings true when political forces encroach upon the established powers. Professionally, I have witnessed existentially threatened institutions both re-invent and assert themselves. The results were shockingly successful. “Finding a way” is so powerful that even the dinosaurs foundContinue reading “Separation of Power? Bechaalotecha”
The Vow: Naso
The Torah Portion Naso is a springboard to many questions. Why have Nazarites? Why create a social status involving abstinence? Was there an unmentioned purpose for having Nazarite status? Has this concept continued through modernity? Perhaps, the most provocative Nazarite status question is “whether something can be simultaneously bad and good?” The Portion Naso laysContinue reading “The Vow: Naso”
The Ten Commandments Project 