Parsha

The Land of Israel and the modern state of Israel are alive and well, and ready to welcome home Jews from all corners of the Earth.

Hashem begins by asking Cain why he is angry and sad and continues with the following verse: (Genesis 4:7) הֲל֤וֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב֙ שְׂאֵ֔ת וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תֵיטִ֔יב לַפֶּ֖תַח חַטָּ֣את רֹבֵ֑ץ וְאֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ תּ

Because of differences of worship in Israel and the Diaspora, Israelis will not be reading from the same Torah portion this Shabbat.

I have always found much of the end of Exodus tedious, centered as it is on the endless details of instruction for building the Tabernacle and weaving the priests’ garments.

This week’s Torah portion – Parashat Pekudei – concludes the description of the building of the Mishkan, a description that’s spread over five portions.

Although the Torah tells us that the cloud fills the sanctuary, there is predictable pushback against the idea of the cloud of glory being physical.

That the mishkan is the focus of the parasha speaks of the importance of the mishkan.

Imaginations are transformed when people sense their personal lives are part of a 'larger story.'

When locusts are swarming in the sky, or hail is pelting the ground, human beings are helpless. You cannot trap every frog that infests the land. But we all know how to counter darkness – candles.