Tag Archives: love

Bamidbar: Desperately Loving a Prostitute

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

On the face of it, the connections between the sedra and the haftarah of Bamidbar are slender. The first has to do with demography. Bamidbar begins with a census of the people. The haftarah begins with Hosea’s vision of a … Continue reading →

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How to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Posted on April 19, 2013 by

Why an “extra meditation” so late in the day? Why so close to Shabbos, when many of my readers east of me have already gone offline or are preparing to do so? Because I can, I suppose. More accurately, because … Continue reading →

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The Torah’s Great Principle

Posted on April 18, 2013 by

Rabbi Akiva said, “Love your fellow as yourself” is a great principle of the Torah. A similar principle is gleaned from the famous story of a proselyte who wished to convert to Judaism on condition that someone would teach him … Continue reading →

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The Transcendent Path

Posted on April 5, 2013 by

If you find yourself affixed to a single path to truth—the path of prayer and praise, or the path of kindness and love, or the path of wisdom and meditation, or any other path of a singular mode —you are … Continue reading →

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On Choosing God

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

Negate your own will in favor of God’s will. -Ethics of the Fathers 2:4 If I surrender my will and turn my life over completely to the will of God, do I not thereby abrogate my power of free choice? … Continue reading →

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Weight

Posted on March 14, 2013 by

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above … Continue reading →

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The New Mitzvah of Christ, part 2

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

So far, as nearly as I can tell, Jesus and James wanted the Gentile disciples to learn the Torah but not be obligated to it. But then why does Jesus in stating “the great commission” tell the Jewish disciples to … Continue reading →

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The New Mitzvah of Christ, part 1

Posted on January 28, 2013 by

“What you dislike, do not do to your friend. That is the basis of the Torah. The rest is commentary; go and learn!” -Shabbos 31a “Love HaShem your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all … Continue reading →

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Doing Love

Posted on January 24, 2013 by

Aaron was ashamed [and was reluctant to assume the position of High Priest] because of his role in the Golden Calf episode, and Moses said, “This is why you were selected.” -Rashi, Leviticus 9:7 I was once asked to see … Continue reading →

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Bo: I Will Betroth You to Me Forever

Posted on January 18, 2013 by

“And so it shall be as a sign upon your hand and as a symbol on your forehead that with a mighty hand the Lord freed us from Egypt.” -Exodus 13:16 (JPS Tanakh) The Children of Israel are commanded to … Continue reading →

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