Parshas Chukas

In this week’s portion’s final two chapters, the Jewish nation is attacked by theworld’s two most powerful leaders, Sichon, King of the Emori, and Og, king of Bashan,whom the Jews handily defeated. When the Jewish people merely asked Sichonpermission to…

Continue ReadingParshas Chukas

Parshas Korach

In this week’s portion we learn about Moshe’s cousin, Korach, who challengedMoshe’s authority claiming that, out of nepotism, Moshe chose his brother Aharon to bethe high priest. Korach alleged that Aharon’s position should have gone to him.Korach was a 130-year-old…

Continue ReadingParshas Korach

Parshas shelach

Traveling to the Amazonian jungle in the mid-1800 was dangerous and harrowing. Bringing your entiremishpacha with you would either be described as blindly optimistic or just plain foolish. But when HenryWickham decamped from England to build a plantation in the…

Continue ReadingParshas shelach

Pesach 5785

The Festival of Pesach is, by far, Judaism’s most celebrated holiday. In terms of popularity, it trumps even Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the “High Holidays.” The theme of freedom that we celebrate on Pesach resonates so deeply within us…

Continue ReadingPesach 5785

Parshas Vayechi 5785

           Yaakov Avinu, the last of the Patriarchs, is at the end of his life. Yet before he leaves this world, he must charge the next generation with their mission to carry forward their illustrious family’s legacy, that of, Avraham, Yitzchak,…

Continue ReadingParshas Vayechi 5785