Torah portion

The tzitzit (fringes) and tallit (prayer shawl) serve as physical reminders of our connections with previous generations and of the faith that sustained them and us.

The verses recited when the ark (and today the Torah) was carried remind us of our own restless wanderings.

The survival and success of the Jewish people stems from our ability to mold reality to match our dreams and ideals.

Moses sends scouts to explore the Land of Israel; ten of them convince the people that it will be too difficult to conquer the land.

The tzitzit (fringes) on our clothes remind us not to be discouraged or lose hope for social change, based on the realities we see around us.

The person who gathered wood on Shabbat in Parashat Sh'lach violated the atmosphere of tranquility essential to the Sabbath.

The role of the spies was to determine whether they and the Israelites had the confidence and certainty of God's love to enter the land of the covenant.

Social justice as a sacred communal obligation

The closer we are to God, the more we are able to put our cravings into perspective.

Being constantly engaged in learning allows us to guard against the pervasive forgetfulness around us.