Parshat Eikev, Part 2, Guarding the Symbol of Faith
The ubiquity of the Ten Commandments on the two tablets in Jewish folk art attests…
David LazarAugust 11, 2017
Parshat Eikev: Moses and Second Set of Tablets
As discussed two weeks ago in Parshat D’varim the Book of Deuteronomy is a second…
David LazarAugust 9, 2017
Parshat Devarim – Reading and Re-reading, Interpreting and Reinterpreting
The fifth book of Moses, which we begin reading this Shabbat, is commonly known as…
David LazarJuly 28, 2017
Parshat Balak – Opening our eyes and our mouths
It's not often that we get a talking animal in the Bible. In fact, Balaam's…
David LazarJuly 6, 2017
Parshat Hukat Part 2 – Honoring the Dead, Then and Now
Last week I posted a possible interpretation of the strange ritual of the Parah Adumah,…
David LazarJuly 3, 2017
Parshat Hukat: Part 1 – Setting Boundaries Between Death and Life
Of all the impurities discussed in the Torah, tuma'at hamet – impurity due to death…
David LazarJune 27, 2017
Hukat: Serpents and Flags
"The Week One Flag Went Down and Another Went Up" is how ABC news put it,…
David LazarJune 29, 2015
Naso: Samson, the First Jewish Superhero
I'm pretty sure that it's safe to say that for us Jews, the first superhero…
David LazarMay 28, 2015
Aharei Mot-Kedoshim: Together in Holiness
The second portion of this week's reading gives us a chance to talk about what…
David LazarApril 30, 2015
Israel: The space between physics and miracles
In a few hours from now, the mourning of Memorial Day will give way to…
David LazarApril 22, 2015