Messages from July 2019

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1)From Mundane to Magnificent

July 26, 2019
Numbers
Pinchas

This week we learn about the laws of inheritance; it’s taught here because of five incredible women, who were the daughters of Tzelafchad. Here’s the claim they presented to Moses.Our father died in the desert. He was not among the members of Korach’s faction, who protested against G-d, but he died because of his own […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly-Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9) Time to Repair

July 19, 2019
Numbers
Balak

This week’s Parsha introduces us to an anti-Semite named Balak. He hired the wicked Bilaam to destroy the Jews; Bilaam agreed and even attempted to do so but was unsuccessful. At one point, Bilaam uttered a remarkable statement; something we would not have expected to come from the mouth of such a malicious person.Let me […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Chukas (Numbers 19:1-22:1)Finding a Place for Pain to Reside

July 12, 2019
Numbers
Chukat

One of the greatest pianists of the 20th century was Leon Fleisher, but at the peak of his career he developed a rare hand condition due to his 7-8 hours of practice each day and was no longer able to play with his right hand. “”I was desolate, my life fell apart, and this mysterious debilitating […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Korach (Numbers 16-18) Finding the Ability to Have Humility

July 5, 2019

No one needs to be convinced of the futility of senseless arguments, yet the villain of this week’s Parsha, Korach, didn’t seem to understand that; he was the most argumentative and rebellious figure of his day. He incited a mutiny by challenging Moses’ leadership and refused to accept that the highest religious position-kehunah(priesthood)- was granted […]