Parshah Columnists

The person you shared coffee with in the morning is now competition, and you’ll cut him down at the first opportunity.

Sometimes, it’s time to put the self-help books aside and jump into the action.

The keys to the success of any significant project are capability and motivation. Potential + perseverance = success. Now between the two, which is primary?

To be whole is to be holy, to keep what is eternally true at the center of your world and the core of your being. But it ain’t easy.

Any relationship can be sparked by infatuation, and it’s easy to get caught up in a moment of intense feelings. But for a relationship to endure, one has to relish and savor it, day after day, week after week, etc.

Why was the Tabernacle erected in the wilderness, a seemingly inopportune time and setting for such an endeavor?

The mirror does not completely obstruct the light, as do other objects. Instead, it reflects the light that shines upon it. It symbolizes how the creation itself can reflect and express the Divine light.

What happens after the honeymoon? Or the first anniversary? Do we have the commitment and the staying power to be in for the long haul?

Neither family background nor social status influence G‑d.

The Torah states "work shall be done" -- the passive voice. Becoming so totally devoted to one's job, such that one's work is one's total preoccupation and obsession, is totally unhealthy and an affront to the divine system. You may have to work, but let it be done

Moses blessed the artisans and craftspeople who built the Tabernacle. Did he forget about the donors?

As the fires of assimilation threaten, and the harsh winds of history blow towards us, there is a danger that we may mistakenly leave Judaism behind in exchange for a carload of worthless junk.

Moses, the lead contractor, was understandably relieved to have finished the job, up to spec, on budget and on time. He could have been forgiven had he taken some time off for R&R but he had one last responsibility to complete before inaugurating the structure: he published a detailed accounting of every single last cent that had been solicited and spent on the project.

Moses knew that the single most potent barrier to unity is money and therefore addressed this barrier before all others.

Every teacher strives not only to transmit his lesson but also to spark the student's curiosity, to engender within him a desire to follow the instruction...

The Midrash teaches that as Moses erected the sanctuary in this world, angels in heaven raised a parallel sanctuary

Each of the five primary components of the Temple service has a counterpart in our homes and in our hearts.

Moses' first act after receiving Divine pardon for the Golden Calf sin was to gather the Israeites and speak to them regading the observance of the Shabbat. Couldn't Moses have found something more ennobling to tell them at that moment?

The Sanctuary is known by two names, each with a distinct connotation essential to understanding the nature of the Sanctuary; as well as the sanctuary we are expected to create in our own lives.

She built in America what architects of the land said could not be supported. But then, looking at blueprints, it can be hard to see passion.

Given that the air conditioner, the CD player and elevator don't require "work," and certainly weren't considered as "fire kindling" by Moses, why does barring them make any sense today?

Creative self-expression is euphoric. But in Jewish thought, the expression of one’s talents is seen as something more—each soul has a unique mission as an agent of G‑d. The women who traveled with Moses in the desert had keen soul-awareness . . .

Why does Moses issue a call for the “wise of heart”? Is this not a contradiction in terms? After all, wisdom is in the mind, while emotions are in the heart!

On the 27th of Adar the Rebbe suffered a stroke, and spoke no more. How are we to view this event? What does it demand of us?

Building the Tabernacle, G-d’s terrestrial residence, must have been a most sought-after contract. What was it about Bezalel and Oholiab that caused them to land this coveted assignment?

Moses was not (only) telling the Jewish nation how to observe the Sabbath, rather he was teaching them how observe Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

When our ancestors traveled in the desert, they were surrounded by a layer of miraculous cloud, which protected, pampered, and provided for them.

The construction of the sanctuary was a collective effort, completed through the talents of thousands of people. And yet, each individual felt that it was because of his personal contribution that the entire sanctuary was brought to completion

A corner of the universe that is utterly, exclusively, one’s own.

Since the universe is basically words (see Genesis 1), everything -- marriage, community building, international relations, cosmic harmony -- is a question of proper grammar

The "spiritual awakening" that is the objective and culmination of our working the Steps has been described as heaven on earth.

Shabbat: the island of time that defines the Jew’s week. The rituals, the practices, the do’s, and the don’ts of the Jewish Sabbath—and how you can experience it all for yourself.

A shattered people must be rebuilt. How does Moses proceed?

Hostile factions can become a single cohesive group so long as they are faced with a shared challenge that all can achieve together but none can do alone.

If we fail to give the body regular exercise, it can easily malfunction and put us at risk of serious illness. The question is: does the same apply to the soul, the spirit, the mind?

There must be transparency and accountability when it comes to public funds even if the people involved have impeccable reputations.

We are here for a reason: to fashion this world into a dwelling place for G‑d.

I find that life has gotten difficult. I wonder why G‑d has chosen to give me ALS.

Jachin and Boaz were the great pillars of copper that were at the entrance of the Holy Temple.

That is our mission, to make this finite world into a home for G‑d, who is infinite.

Whether we consider ourselves low or high, righteous or wicked, someone with limited abilities or someone super talented, we are all needed.