Shlomo's Thoughts on the Torah

Samson is a flawed individual. His story teaches us what happens when a person has power but does not control his desires.

The warnings in this week's portion do not mention a lack of spirituality. It goes into the breakdown of society. And that breakdown is caused by fear & insecurity. That eventually leads to disaster.

Lag Baomer reminds us that our society cannot be static. We can raise or lower our status, economically, socially, or religiously. It is all up to us.

Acharai Mot–Kedoshim: Getting Up After the Fall The Torah opens this week’s parashah with a striking phrase: “אַחֲרֵי מוֹת שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן” — “After the death of the two sons of Aaron” (Nadav and Avihu). Imagine the scene. Aaron has just suffered an unimaginable personal tragedy—the loss of his sons. And what does the Torah do next? It doesn’t linger in mourning. It doesn’t pause for extende...

On Passover we start to count the Omer. This is the count to when we will arrive at Mt. Sinai and our true mission. Why God took us out of Egypt. To give us His Holy laws so that we will become a nation of laws.

The miracle at the Sea of Reeds, (The Red Sea) was that God split the sea only after Nochson Ben Amidav jumped in. It was not that God does everything for us but that we have to work as well.

Pharaoh's big mistake was that he assumed that the Jews would return to Egypt after their holiday. It never occurred to him that the Jews did not like being slaves. This is the set up for the events at the Sea of Reeds.

One of the lessons of Nadav and Avihu's death is that we should stay within due bounds. This is also the reason for the answer we give the wise son, that sometimes we just have to experience life, we cannot be too strict.

The Parsha Shmini is usually read around Passover. The two are connected. Shmini is concerned with attaining holiness withing limits. Passover is the ultimate in limits on what we can eat.

The Founding Fathers of the US looked upon the creation of the US as their form of leaving Egypt. Jefferson wanted the symbol of the US to be the Jews in the wilderness being led by a pillar of fire.

When we read the Haggadah we realize that Moses is not mentioned except once ant that is in passing. The lesson is that God took us out of Egypt. Moses was merely his servant.

The 3 pilgrimage holidays of the Jews represent our maturing process after leaving Egypt. Passover we were children, Shavuoth we studied God's purpose for us and Sukkot, we are a mature being ready for the world.

The month of Nisan we celebrate our freedom. We declare that we are in control of our destiny so long as we follow God's commandments. That we determine our destiny, not the stars or anything else such as that.

One of the offerings that we bring is the Thanksgiving Offering. When we read about it we see that we are required to bring a huge amount of food. It has to be eaten in one night. This forces us to share it with others. Making it a community affair.

The Torah lays down specific laws about the offerings we bring to the Tabernacle. They have to be legally ours is one of them. We are not feeding God. God looks at our intent when bridging the offering.

The Torah goes into detail of what a priest would have to wear while doing his duty in the Tabernacle. The reason is that we should concentrate on his actions, not on the person.

The Eternal Light in the Tabernacle reminds us that we have to do our duty no matter what. Even if it is a dirty job it still has to get done.

We are commanded to bring an offering every day. It is the same Morning and afternoon. This is to teach us that real spirituality is being consistent and keeping our appointment with God.

The Tabernacle was a blueprint in how to have a just society. The Ark, Menorah, Table and the Altar all had deeper meaning for us.

Holiness does not come from miracles, as much as our everyday activities.

Before building the Tabernacle, God asks that the Jews donate what they can. The amazing thing is that they were so generous with their donations that Moses had to tell them stop.

In the middle of the civil and criminal laws of Parshat Mishpatim, we have a reminder to keep Shabbat. This is to remind us that our civil and criminal laws come from God, not man.

The Torah states that someone who wishes to remain a slave is punished. The Torah wants you to earn your potential but to do so you have to free, and not a slave.

The key to any society is teamwork. That is the same in football. Every member of the team has to know his job. If even a minor player fails, then the whole team will suffer. So, too, the Torah stresses that we are all part of society and we each have to help.

Holiness is to be found in how we treat each other. Someone who cheats in business or in some other way abuse his fellow man is by definition not holy.