Someone had to dedicate a class to MCA. Not that I am a huge Beasties fan. But someone had to dedicate a class to the Adam Yauch. So we did. And we go to what I would consider THE key question among thinking Jews – do I follow my heart and my instincts, or do [...]

The parsha talks about the absence of life and the black hole it leaves. The more potential, the more black hole.

we tap the Maharal’s commentary on Rashi for some deep insights into human nature, particularly about gravitating to extremes.

Going with the times – Pesach, like all the holidays, offers something unique amidst the Jewish year – something specific to focus on and work toward. This is counterbalanced by the Tamid – the everyday, consistent, and dependable. This class explores the relationship between them.  

To understand this essential book of the Torah, we need to re-engage the world of symbol; something we have lost along the way.  

in our study of Parshat Vayechi, we see how Ya’akov’s life is reframed beyond the classic good/bad mentality. And Rebbe Nachman tells us a bit about how to get there.

Parshat Vayigash – the cliffhanger concludes with the dramatic unmasking of Yosef. But it could only happen when the brothers, and especially Yehuda, could do their own work.

Going over Torah from Shabbat Metzorah.  Thinking about two houses – one in Egypt where the ezov is on the door to keep evil out, and the house in metzorah where the ezov is used to get the evil out of the house itself. And more.

The incense is a gift from the angel of death.  It was given to Moshe when he embraced his full humanness.  When we embrace all the wonderfully flawed aspects of being a human,  we can conquer death.  parshat korach ketoret all of me

Doing the work to get invested in something that I am not naturally committed to – this is the highest level.  The ability to make the mitzvah precious to me makes me precious to G-d.   Only this movement TOWARD Hashem creates attachment.