Moses
Good leaders enter the Promised Land. Great leaders teach people how to find the Promised Land on their own.
‘The water-drawn,’ Moses was not your predictable leader. Moses grew up in the home of a pharaoh, lived in obscurity for a large portion of his life, and only formerly began his leadership at the tender age of 80. Moses had difficulty articulating. Moses transcended speech and was the humblest man to ever live. Moses was married to Tziporah, a daughter of a Midianite high priest named Yitro. The Divine Presence would speak through the Moses’ throat. Moses led the Jewish people from the slavery of Egypt to the borders of the Promised Land. Everything Moses did was driven only by what was best for the people, even arguing with God on their behalf. Moses passed away right before the people entered the land, but not before he taught them how to live.
Self-Styled Spies
In Parshat Shelach, the distinction in wording between “spies” and “scouts” makes all the difference in understanding the tragedy of the Twelve Spies.
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Land and See
One of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history was the debacle of “The Spies” in Parshat Shelach. The spies failed their mission: it all came down to sight
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Lamps and Lives
The verses in Parshat Beha’alotecha specify two laws of the menorah corresponding to two visions of man provided by Rashi and Nachmanides.
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Korach: Why Do We Need Leaders?
‘Why do we need a leader’ is the precise theme of this week’s Torah portion. Korach challenges Moses to an important question about the need for leaders.
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Supernal Real Estate
An exploration of the laws pertaining to bar mitzra, the neighbor whose land borders your own, and the correlation to G-d’s giving of the Torah to man.
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Real Estate
G-d gave the Torah to man to build Him a home, but not before His neighbors, the angels, put up a legal fight.
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Doing Nothing
In the first few days of Sivan, the Children of Israel prepared to receive the Torah by making themselves into vessels.
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An Outsider’s View
Jethro added a chapter to the Torah allowing the Children of Israel to relate to it and govern themselves with it.
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On the Essence of Leadership
As Moses leads the Song of the Sea after the Jews escape the Egyptians, he demonstrates true leadership, for within Moses the soul of Israel was one.
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I am so very honored to have the privileged of attending your class. Your thoughts and words really enhance my spirit, and revolutionized my perspective on life. You have taught me about love and pain, about happiness and sadness, and given me the tools to utilize these opposing energies as driving forces in my own life. Your words never fail to enter in my heart and tears always come out. I pray that l will be able to continue using your teaching to guide me in a life of true happiness.
-Richelle Simms