Parsha Vayakhail: A Torah on Oops

Next week, we wrap up the book of Shmot (Exodus), but before we can do that, let us review what we read this week. The parsha (Torah portion) for this week is called Vayakhail which means, “And he assembled,” as in Moshe (Moses) assembled the whole community of the children of Yisrael. If you recall from last week’s parsha, Moshe goes up the mountain for 40 days and nights, and we build a golden calf.  Moshe comes down and destroys … Continue reading

When Friends Visit

My friend Eliezer just got into town.  He is just here through shabbat, a couple of days.  I know him from my days in Jerusalem.  And just as you do when a friend that you haven’t seen for a couple of years visits, you spend the first day catching up and the conversation goes all over the place.  One of the places where our conversation went was shabbat guests.  I have invited a few friends over and he asked me … Continue reading