by RabbiOlivier | Jul 8, 2016 | General
Korach Numbers 16:1 – 18:32 Do You Believe in Free Will? In this week’s Torah portion, Moses and his brother Aaron are confronted with a revolt led by Korach, a leader of the tribe of Levi. Korach and his followers challenge Moses’ authority,...
by RabbiOlivier | Jun 17, 2016 | General
Naso Numbers 4:21 – 7:89 Freedom From The Yoke of Desires Mindfulness is often described as the art of being present to each moment, of paying attention to each experience in our everyday life. Interestingly, paying attention in Hebrew is “lasim lev,” meaning...
by RabbiOlivier | Jun 10, 2016 | General
B’midbar Numbers 1:1 – 4:20 We Lose Our self to Find Our Self The midrash relating to the opening of this week’s Torah portion, “B’midbar,” meaning: “In the wilderness;” asks its reader: “Why was the Torah given...
by RabbiOlivier | Jun 3, 2016 | General
B’chukotai Leviticus 26:3 – 27:34 The Evolving God of Our Understanding The last Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus, B’chukotai, begins with: “If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments…” [Lev. 26:3] and continues with defining for us...
by RabbiOlivier | May 27, 2016 | General
B’har Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2 Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land On July 8, 1776 the Liberty Bell was rung in Philadelphia to mark the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. On the side of the legendary cracked bell the famous...
