Messages from February 2020

Weekly Torah Portion: Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24)What’s Your Bribe?

Linguists are at a loss to find an origin for the word “bribe.” It is first used in 14th century old French but it means “steal.” By mid-15th century its meaning had shifted to “gift given to influence corruptly.” No one knows where “bribe” came from or how it ultimately came to have the meaning we use […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: BeShalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16)What’s Your Song?

How should we react when we see or hear of our enemy’s demise? Thousands of years ago King Solomon advised:Do not rejoice at your enemy’s downfall, and when he stumbles let your heart not be joyous, lest the G-d see and be displeased and turn back His anger from him [to you] (Proverbs 24:17-18).This statement tells us […]