LIVING WITH PURPOSE

The story of our patriarchs as recorded in the Book of Genesis is no doubt one of the greatest stories ever told. Each character is legendary. Its narrative is riveting. It is the story that encapsulates the history of our people. But, who are the Jewish people? What is their quintessential nature? What trait more than any other captures their very essence? We can find a glimpse of light at the closing of the story where we read about the passing of the last of our patriarchs

What story has made the greatest impact in your life? Let me share with you mine. Until today I can vividly recall when I first heard this story as a child. The tale begins with sibling rivalry that goes horribly wrong, threatening to destroy a dynasty. However the story ends in spectacular fashion triggered by a supreme act of self-sacrifice. The story I refer to is of Joseph and his brothers. The narrative as conveyed to us in the Bible and its myriad of commentaries is riv

Why are human beings so afraid of the dark yet so attracted to the light? On the surface the answer is simple. The dark leaves us vulnerable and exposed, unable to spot any threats that may be lurking behind the scenes. With light on the other hand we are able to see what’s going on around us. The mystics however go far deeper then this by explaining that all “light” is in fact a manifestation of divine energy. It therefore serves as the ultimate metaphor for G-d and all his

Crazy things are happening in the world right now. But sometimes the “crazy” is “good”. The opposite of “crazy” is “normal”. The question is who decides what’s “normal”. On Wednesday night the President of the USA recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The international community almost universally condemned him. We the Jewish people believe that we built and first inhabited this city over three thousand years ago. The question is who’s crazy? Is “normal” determined b

What scene in the bible best captures the quintessential nature of the Jew? What about Moses as he leads the Jewish people out of Egypt? Or perhaps it is of Abraham imploring G-d to save the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah? Or maybe it is of the Jewish people as they are gathered together around Mount Sinai experiencing revelation. A scene that has always fascinated me from the time I can remember and continues to do so, is an episode in this week's Torah portion where Jaco