Parshah Columnists

Guest Columnists
Be Here Now As someone who struggles with "Blackberry on the Brain," and with the difficulty of being truly present whilst feeling torn in multiple directions, my friend's words struck a chord. How DOES one become "present"? By Mendy Herson		You’re Unique, Just Like Everyone Else What is the connection between the half-shekel tax and kilayim, the prohibition of forbidden mixtures? Why does the Mishnah lump the two together? By Yossy Goldman
A Thought for the Week
The Phenomenon of the "Half" Can a mere half-shekel atone for the gravest of sins? Perhaps the answer lies in the “halfness” of the coin . . . By Yitschak Meir Kagan 2 Comments
Parshah Messages
Home Starts at Charity With Parshat Shekalim we begin the process of preparing ourselves for the holiday season. The first step in this process is quite surprising . . . By Naftali Silberberg 3 Comments		The Fiery Coin G-d took a coin of fire and showed it to Moses: "Such as this they shall give." Why did G-d need to put on a "show and tell" for Moses? By Naftali Silberberg 3 Comments
Through the Eyes of a Woman
Fire Insurance By Nechoma Greisman 2 Comments
Parshah Parenting
Shekalim: Proactive Parenting Tapping your child’s essential goodness Is there any benefit in compelling your child to do what is right, when he’s doing so only because he cannot disobey you? By Chana Weisberg 10 Comments
Parshah Musings
Poll Tax I can understand the outrage. Isn't a tax that devolves on everyone equally, regardless of his or her ability to pay, patently inequitable? By Elisha Greenbaum		What’s the Point of Going Through the Motions? Seemingly empty words and accompanying gestures that are even less sincere. They're not fooling G‑d, so why bother wasting time having people act out a meaningless charade? By Elisha Greenbaum 3 Comments
Inner Stream
The Counting Paradox A census achieves two contrary aims. By focusing on the total sum, it asks the individual to suspend his individuality; at the same time, it compels him to ask himself if he is worthy of contributing to the total... By Lazer Gurkow
More Parshah Articles
Charity: an Anthology How to give, how to receive, what it means, what it does, the cosmic significance, a dialog with the moon, and ramblings on stress and love... Compiled by Yanki Tauber
Beyond Speech
1 + 1 = A Holy One Why a half-shekel? And if a half holy shekel is a regular shekel, why not simply require a shekel? By Yitzi Hurwitz 5 Comments		On the Haftarah: Repairing Our Temple For the haftarah of Shekalim, From the Teachings of the Rebbe When you get something without effort, it is referred to as “bread of shame.” What part will we do to earn the Third Temple? By Yitzi Hurwitz