Vayakhel-Pekudei

Neither family background nor social status influence G‑d.

Leave perfection to G‑d; He wants for nothing but your struggles.

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.

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.

Each of us can use our unique capabilities and opportunities to be a sanctuary for G‑d’s presence in our world.

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

What others think of us is relevant only if it reflects what we stand for and the way we honor their dignity. The secret is that we attain the favor of others precisely when we free ourselves of kowtowing to public opinion . . .

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 . . .

Success is the magic that floods my efforts with satisfaction. But success is never a guarantee, because there are so many variables that play into my ideal outcome.

When the Jewish nation was still very, very young, we began setting aside materials for our own marital home. Our wedding was still hundreds of years, and hundreds of miles, away . . .