In the past, Jewish farmers would bring their harvest’s first fruits to Jerusalem. They would travel there with other farmers, led by oxen whose horns had been coated in gold adorned with olive branches placed on their heads. Flutes musically accompanied the procession; they would travel for only two-thirds of the day, which allowed others […]

This week’s Parsha opens with the mitzvah to bring the first fruits (bikurim) to Jerusalem. (Practically speaking, because we no longer have the Temple, we can no longer fulfill this mitzvah.) Back in the day, the bringing of the bikurim was done with grandeur. A procession of people would come with their fruits, led by musicians and […]

The following dialogue is from the film Manhattan: Yale: You are so self-righteous, you know. I mean we’re just people. We’re just human beings, you know? You think you’re God. Isaac: I . . . I gotta model myself after someone. Can one mode oneself after G-d? According to classical Jewish wisdom, the answer is […]

This week’s Torah portion contains rebuke and dreadful consequences for the Jewish community if we allow Jews to abandon their Judaism. After stating the terrible events that will occur, the rebuke closes by mentioning that the ultimate catalyst for these bad things is “as the result of your not having served HaShem, your G-d, with […]