Pinchas killed a prince of the nation who was intimately involved with a non-Jewish princess from Midian. Certainly, one would praise such an act of bravery ignoring the status of the person involved and instead protecting the nation from experiencing within its midst such a travesty. However, just the opposite took place.
Some of the most meaningful conversations begin with a simple question… and a room full of people willing to listen. Thank you to everyone who joined us this week for Clean Speech Dialogues. Together, we explored challenging ideas with honesty, curiosity, and respect, proving that meaningful dialogue is still possible. A special thank you to…
Some nights just feel a little more elevated.
Last week, our Family Experience team hosted a VIP & Donor Appreciation Evening — a beautifully curated night of gratitude, connection, and seriously good food. Think multi-course dining from East Side Kosher Deli, each course thoughtfully paired with exceptional wines, and a room filled with the people who help make everything we do possible.
It was intimate, warm, and full of the kind of conversations you wish you could bottle.
We’re sharing a glimpse into the evening below… but fair warning: this is one of those “wish you were there” galleries.
(And if you weren’t there this time — we’d love to have you at the next one.) 🍷
The sacrifice termed the Peace Offering or the ‘Shlamim’ is unlike other offerings because its allowed time for consumption is the day it was brought, the following night and the day after. All other sacrifices are only for that day and the following night based upon Torah standards.
Moishe and Miriam sat down for dinner after a long day. Miriam brought out a beautiful brisket, sliced it carefully, and placed two pieces on the serving platter, one noticeably larger than the other. Moishe reached over, as he always did, and took the larger piece. Miriam raised an eyebrow.“Moishe… I don’t understand. When we…
The halacha is that only a Kohen can pronounce the impurity of Tzora’as upon either a person, his clothing or his home. Nonetheless, when the Torah mentions that one’s house can be infected with the spiritual impurity of Tzora’as the owner approaches the Kohen and states that it appears as though a sign of Tzora’as has been noticed.
An aerospace company is building a next-generation fighter jet… and every single test ends the same way: the wings snap clean off mid-flight.
They try everything. Stronger alloys. New structural designs. Reinforcements. Nothing works.
The chief engineer, running on fumes and coffee, goes to his rabbi. “Rabbi, I’m out of ideas. We’ve tried everything. Every test… same failure, same exact spot.”
The rabbi leans in. “Same place every time?”
“Every time.”
The rabbi strokes his beard. “Can I come see it?”
One of the most special sacrifices is that of the burnt offering. The entire animal is consumed on the altar, obviously an indication of absolute and exclusive consideration to serve Hashem. Only the outer skin, the hide is not given to Hashem but rather presented to the Kohanim, the priests, our representatives in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash.
There are two kinds of people at a Seder: the ones who come for the meaning… and the ones who come prepared with terrible jokes.
This year, we’re embracing both.
Scroll on. Bring these to your Seder.
Just don’t blame us when the eye rolls start.
What did one Seder plate say to the other? “Dinner is on me!”
Nachmonides on the other hand explains that this beginning verse in Vayikra is a continuation of the end of parshas Pekudei. There the Torah states that the Cloud of Hashem enveloped the Mishkan both from the outer perimeter and even the interior of the Mishkan was infused with the glory of Hashem.