From the Desk of Rabbi Alter

In this parashah, Aaron is commanded to kindle the lights of the Menorah, but a most unusual expression is used in this connection. “Beha’alotcha” literally means “when you elevate,” rather than “l’hadlik,” the word used in connection to kindling the Shabbos and festival lights. There is a profound

When i spent a great deal of time watching Star Trek, I noticed that Leonard Nimoy, portraying the half-Vulcan character, Mr. Spock, used the priestly blessing gesture as he delivered the Vulcan “salute” along with the greeting, “Live long and prosper.” The phrase transcends the centuries and

A LIFE LESSON Rising in the presence of any person is certainly a sign of honor and respect. So what is about a person who’s achieved “old age” that God tells the Jewish people that he should be so revered? Perhaps it’s because there’s nothing in the

The Talmud lists seven possible reasons as to why a person can find himself isolated and lonely in life. One of the key elements that runs through all seven is that the person happens to be stingy, not just in terms of his money, but in terms

In the times of the Holy Temple, the chatat was an offering brought when a person inadvertently transgressed. There was a special prohibition against its meat being removed from the Temple. If, however, the High Priest brought a chatat for his own transgression, its meat was taken

Sometimes we wonder whether such puny individuals as ourselves can make an impact on world events, whether we can make a real difference in God’s universe. Most of us would give a negative response to such questions. Parashas Ki Tisa, however, comes to challenge that view. This parashah impresses upon

In this week’s Torah portion, God gives the specifications on how the High Priest’s clothing is to be made. Since this entire process requires very precise work, God wanted the clothing to be made by: “…the wise-hearted people whom I have invested with… wisdom.” (Exodus 28:3) A LIFE

One of the recurring themes of the Torah is the importance of eliminating any dissonance between a person’s spiritual world and his physical world. This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, is the basis of our entire legal code. Mixed in with this code are several ritual laws culminating with

When Moses and Aaron turned their stick into snakes, why did God allow the children of Egypt to be able to replicate this? The answer is that God wanted the Egyptians hooked into thinking that they could match Moses and Aaron step-for-step, so that later – when

“She called his name Moses, as she said, ‘For I drew him from the water’” (Ex. 2:10). It is interesting that the name by which Moses is know is the name given to him by the Egyptian princess who saved his life, rather than the one given