Matot

In this Torah portion, the biblical character Pinchas shows us how to engender more positive relationships.

How the kosher practice of waiting between meat and dairy reminds us of Moses' discomfort with violence.

How can we stimulate and support women to fulfill their dreams?

Awareness of the wholeness in the Torah opens our eyes to the wholeness of the world.

What accounts for the negative correlation between material excess and awareness of the Divine?

Every step of the Israelites' journey is framed in relation with God.

The severity of the war against the Midianites should motivate us to examine our own behavior and root out our own forms of idolatry.

The laws of vows and the rabbinic cautions against making them teach the holiness and power of the spoken word.

The war against Midian teaches that when Israel does fight wars, they must fight with compassion and a minimum of casualties.

The laws of vows teach that our words have the power to create holiness between us.