Evergreen

Cities of Refuge are symbols of God's unconditional love and constant presence among people.

The list of places through which the Israelites traveled in the wilderness teaches us to understand Judaism through our everyday experiences.

Our discomfort with the Torah's command to wipe out other nations stems from the contrast between that directive and the Torah's usual emphasis on respect for human life.

The census that occurs immediately after the plague for the sin with Midian reassures the Children of Israel that they are still God's partners in the covenant.

In identifying Moses' successor, God emphasizes that inspiration, not passion or popularity, makes a successful leader.

By asking the priests to bless the people, God gives them an opportunity to serve as role models of caring for the people.

Parashat Beha'alotcha illustrates three paths of achieving meaning in life.

Miriam and Aaron's criticism of Moses, and Miriam's punishment of leprosy teach lessons of sibling and communal responsibility.

The Israelites receive instructions regarding Passover, journey forth from Sinai and complain to God on several occasions.

The prohibition against the direct counting of the Israelites cautions us to remember the human faces behind abstract statistics.