My wife loves to make up rules. While in scripture the laws often are preceded by “and the Lord spoke to Moses,” for me, the words “from now on…” often initiates a session of marital legislation at most likely an inopportune time. Who makes laws while struck driving on the 405! For me, matrimonial governmentContinue reading “The Icing On The Decalogue’s Cake: Shoftim”
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Of Crossing Over? Re’eh
I walk the line Johnny Cash Life comes with beginnings: a new school, a new job, a new love of one’s life. With the new comes the unknown. While we may possess some rudimentary grasp of what is to become, the unknown remains an element with each and every new encounter. What will the newContinue reading “Of Crossing Over? Re’eh”
Who “Actually” Wrote The Bible: A Book Review
With Richard Elliott Friedman’s Who Wrote The Bible?, we explore the Hebrew Bible’s authorship. With Professor Jacob Wright’s Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and Its Origins, we explore the goals and ambitions of the people[scribes]working behind the scenes to craft the Hebrew Bible. With William M. Schniederwind’s Who Really Wrote theContinue reading “Who “Actually” Wrote The Bible: A Book Review”
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”
Of Kamala Harris
While VP and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris has been often criticized for “word salad,” nobody has taken the time to posit why she speaks that way. Many years ago in my Zelig like life, I encountered the possible POTUS at an earlier stage of her political career. This experience leads me to offer up aContinue reading “Of Kamala Harris”
An Eleventh Commandment? A Personal Proposal
I was once like you are now and I know that it’s not easy Cat Stevens Sometimes life is simply better with an eleven. For Spinal Tap fans, they all know that when things need to get a rockin’ at the next level, the amp knob is turned from ten to eleven. For the luckyContinue reading “An Eleventh Commandment? A Personal Proposal”
Of O.T. Marriage : Va’Etchanan
I, Your Lord, your God, am a jealous God Exodus 20:5 You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might Deuteronomy 6:5 Is marriage exclusive to humans? Or, is the institution beyond mere mortals? An interpretation of a single sentence from the TorahContinue reading “Of O.T. Marriage : Va’Etchanan”
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”
In The Beginning, There Was Hebrew School
While teaching their respective university classes, two renowned Hebrew Bible Scholars exposed themselves as to their humble beginnings. At Yale Divinity School, Professor and Author Joel Baden, when lecturing on the Book of Genesis’ dual flood narratives, broke out into a fine rendition of “Noah, he built em, he built em, an arky arky…” AtContinue reading “In The Beginning, There Was Hebrew School”
Going Post In July- Plus, AI Assistant Humiliation
And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?” Talking Heads Personally, self-reflection is a cringe-fest. Exploring the uncomfortable is often the only pathway towards improvement. The greatest learning comes the losses and not the victories. Measuring oneself against others can be self-reflection. Likewise, one’s dreams and expectations can serve as weights onContinue reading “Going Post In July- Plus, AI Assistant Humiliation”