by Cindy Hurwitz | May 13, 2025 | Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom! This week in Parshat Emor, we encounter a challenging and thought-provoking command: priests with physical blemishes were not permitted to serve in the Temple. Why would the Torah—so often a voice for compassion and inclusion—seemingly exclude those...
by Cindy Hurwitz | May 8, 2025 | Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom! This week, we read the double portion of Acharei Mot–Kedoshim, exploring what it truly means to be holy—and why holiness is never a solo journey. Why does the Torah follow the tragic death of Aaron’s sons with the sacred rituals of Yom Kippur? And what...
by Cindy Hurwitz | Apr 30, 2025 | Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom! This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Tazria, opens with a surprising question: Why does a woman who gives birth need to bring a sin offering? What “sin” could possibly be connected to the most miraculous and joyful moment of life? Our sages offer...
by Cindy Hurwitz | Apr 24, 2025 | Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom! This week in Parshat Shemini, we encounter one of the most heartbreaking and powerful moments in the Torah—when Aaron loses his two sons at the height of spiritual celebration. Why does Aaron respond with silence? What can we learn from his stillness...
by Cindy Hurwitz | Apr 17, 2025 | Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom! This week, we pause from the regular Torah cycle to mark the seventh day of Passover, a day dedicated to one of the most awe-inspiring moments in our history—the splitting of the sea. Why is this miracle given an entire holiday of its own? What does it...
