Messages from June 2020

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Korach (Numbers 16-18) The Uprising of Commonsense Judaism

June 26, 2020
Numbers
Korach

Is common sense all one really needs in life (and Judaism)? That’s what Annie Oakley said in one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals,Annie Get Your Gun.Folks like us could never fussWith schools and books and learnin’Still we’ve gone from A to Z Doin’ what comes naturally You don’t have to know how to read or […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Shelach (Numbers 13-15)A Student, a Prostitute, and a Sage

June 19, 2020
Numbers
Sh'lach

We are introduced to the mitzvah of tzitzis at the end of this week’s Parsha.Speak to the children of Israel and you shall say to them that they shall make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations…and when you see it, you will remember all of G-d’s the commandments…and you shall not wander after […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Behalotcha (Numbers 8-12)The Trebek Effect

June 12, 2020
Numbers
Beha'alotcha

Miriam (Moses’ sister) spoke negatively about Moses to Aaron, their brother. As a result, she broke out intzaras, a form of leprosy that existed only in biblical times; it emerged when a person spokelashon hara, negative talk-non beneficial criticism. Moses prayed for Miriam, but the prayer was just five words.Moses cried out to G-d, saying, “Please, […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Nasso (Numbers 4:21-7:89) 5780/2020How to Get Up When Life Knocks You Down

June 5, 2020
Numbers
Nasso

The Mishkan (Tabernacle) was the portable place of worship for the Jews in the wilderness and the precursor to the Temple (Beit Hamikdash) that King Solomon would build hundreds of years later in Jerusalem. After its completion, there was a seven-day ceremony in which the clergy was installed into their sacred office. At the end of each […]