Messages from July 2017

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Devarim (Deutoronomy 1:1-3:22) Keep Your Eyes on the Prize When You Criticize

July 28, 2017
Deuteronomy
Devarim

This week’s Torah reading is the beginning of the last of the five books of the Torah and was spoken by Moses during the last five weeks of his life. It begins with his giving rebuke to the nation. We can learn a number of lessons about rebuke by analyzing how carefully he chose his […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Matot-Masei (Numbers 30-36) The Bridge of Thoughtlessness

July 21, 2017
Numbers
Masei, Matot

Moses had been the consummate conciliator for the past 40 years. From the sin of the Golden Calf when he appeased G-d and throughout the many ordeals during the 40-year desert sojourn, he is constantly an advocate for the wishes of his nation. This week, however, Moses reacts totally different to what appears to be […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly–Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1) Effective Leadership

July 14, 2017
Numbers
Pinchas

Who will go out before them …who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the G-d will not be like sheep without a shepherd. (27:17) What prerequisites did Moses request his successor have; what were his criteria for leadership? A leader “who will go out before them and who […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Balak (Numbers 22:2-25) Listening to Your Messages

July 7, 2017
Numbers
Balak

Balak the king of Moav, was willing to pay Bilaam to curse the Jewish people. Why Bilaam? He is an interesting character who is unique in scripture because he was a non-Jewish prophet who was given the gift of prophecy on a level equivalent to Moses’. The Almighty gave Bilaam these powers so that the […]