


False Witness
Public statements are amplified as they echo through the Internet, as we tweet, post, or share. Among all such declarations, Torah gives sworn oaths special consideration and false oaths are the most heinous. Today’s news is filled with…

Creating a Home
“A house is just a box where you keep your stuff.” A contractor tossed this comment over his shoulder as he left my new home, clearly thinking that he was dropping a pearl of wisdom.
I looked around. He had come to hang a painting over…

George Bailey’s Wonderful Life
I love the scene at the end of the Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” when the community turns a plea to save George Bailey from financial ruin into a celebration. In the history of the Jewish people, we find one instance in Torah…

Isn’t it Rich?
Determining who is wealthy can sometimes be a spiritual matter. This week in Torah reading Ki Tisa, each person over 20 is directed to pay a half shekel as “ransom.” This method of taxation serves multiple purposes: as a census, protection…

Fashion Fit for the Soul
Clothing does not merely make a fashion statement. Nowadays, consumers are more likely to purchase clothes that best enhance experiences, like yoga pants. Moreover, we are approaching a time when clothing is less about standards of style and…

Dwellings Fit for God
The obituary of the synagogue keeps being written and rewritten. Thousands of churches and synagogues close each year. Yet there is a different report that deserves equal attention. The repurposing of holy space.Torah portion Trumah…

Building with Sapphire Bricks
A recent exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum reminded me of the potent spiritual power in building things, and how powerful the details can be – like color.
The featured exhibit was Infinite Blue and included diverse works of art – ancient…

Beating Burnout
The most frequent question people ask me is: “how do you do all that you are doing?” I suspect that there is a measure of concern behind the question. My friends and colleagues don’t want me to burn out. In fact, burn…

The Things They Carried
The comedian George Carlin once did a routine about what people consider to be “essential stuff.” When you go on a trip, you select from among your possessions only what you need for the trip. If during that trip you decide to…