This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Nasso relates the ancient and problematic practice of Sotah, in which a husband who experiences a “fit of jealousy” and is “wrought up” (Numbers 5:14) that his wife might have been unfaithful to him can engage a ritual practice to discern whether she is innocent of wrongdoing.
What Jewish Law Says About The Alleged Camp Ramah Assault
Why should it take a lawsuit to get a Jewish camp to be aware of the Jewish laws on how to treat those who have been raped?
The Meaning Of Shavuot
The strange, wonderful, and beautiful, thing about the Torah is that it always stands ready.
Love Lingers: A Powerful Message From The Finale of “This Is Us”`
The end of a show that captured the full range of human emotions.
And Prayers
Prayer does not absolve us from seeing the world as broken and recognizing that human beings are indeed capable of terrible acts.
On Birth, Rituals, and Transitions
They say that when a child is born, a mother is too. But what searchable ritual could possibly prepare me for such a thing?
Imagine a Sabbatical
I was once speaking on a panel at the Pentagon, along with a dozen or so other religious leaders. We … Continue Reading
Responding to Unscrupulous Leadership
Scandals involving clergy abound today, from misappropriation of funds to inappropriate personal conduct and outright abuse. Could this week’s Torah portion provide guidance about how we might respond?