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Torah

Is Winning Really Most Important Thing in Life?

MATOT, Numbers 30:2-34:42

By:

Rabbi Howard A. Addison

"The imperative to win runs strongly through our collective American psyche." Football coach Al Davis' sentiment rings loud and clear: "Just win, baby." In many pursuits in the modern world, we find those willing to hurt others and compromise their integrity just to gain on the competition. To quote baseball manager Leo Durocher, "Nice guys finish last." Since nobody wants...

Torah

Reflecting on Our Inheritance and Legacy

PINCHAS, Numbers 25:10-30:1

By:

Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell

Summer is a time for renewal of body and spirit. Many of us gather in places of family history and memory. As we sit together, we share stories, recounting the past and reflecting on the present. We may discover how choices and circumstances, along with physical and spiritual legacies, shape our lives. An essential step in our healthy development is...

Torah

Donkey Tale Reminds Us To Take Off Blinders

BALAK, Numbers 22:2-25:9

By:

Rabbi Joshua Runyan

This week's portion contains one of the Torah's more humorous episodes, describing the headstrong actions of a pagan prophet and his talking donkey. Alarmed at the Israelites' victories against the Amorites, King Balak of Moab sends for the prophet Balaam to curse the intruders. But the Almighty instructs Balaam that cursing Israel would be impossible. Only when Balak ups the...

Torah

Miriam's Well: Symbol for the Source of Life

HUKKAT, Numbers 19:1-22:1

By:

Rabbi Danielle Stillman

Miriam's death is reported in this week's parshah, Hukkat, and in the very next verse, we learn that the people are without water. Rashi notes that, during the 40 years the people were in the desert, they had access to wells because of Miriam's merit. Indeed, legend has it that Miriam's well accompanied the people from place to place as...

Torah

Korah's Error: Seeking to Defy Divine Order

KORAH, Numbers 16:118:32

By:

Joshua Runyan

If you're looking for a tale of pride, deception and unbridled self-interest, along with the imagery befitting a Hollywood film, it's hard to do better than this week's Torah portion. It has it all: An ambitious upstart, Korah, rebels against Moses and Aharon by joining with two schemers, Dathan and Abiram, and enlisting the support of 250 other men. They...