Cities of Refuge -- No Place to run to -- No place to hide . . . What is a 'place' of refuge? A place to 'hide away' or is it a place to 'bring us closer together'? ____________ Some of you may remember Rabbi David Wolpe as he grew up here in the Philadelphia area before going off to the … [Read more...]

Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning actor, director, composer, and comedian, Mel Brooks (born Melvin James Kaminsky) turns 97 today . . . (Can Humor be (simultaneously) both self-deprecating and medicinal? No, Mel is certainly not a snake, although he might have been somewhat of a … [Read more...]

Miriam dies: maybe that should have been the end of it. Do Rebels Ever Prosper? / Miriam as a rebel? / Perhaps depends on whom you ask. Here below, Henry the IV, Part l, SCENE V (5) -- "Rebels never Prosper" (Shakespeare), for our consideration: The rebellion quells, and Henry chides … [Read more...]

Words and Symbols have meaning and importantly, tremendous power This is what Rachav (Rahab) says: (note: symbolically and for the record -- the Bible understands her as an Egyptian god and as a symbol of Egypt -- although apparently, she wants to join with this Israelite people on their way … [Read more...]

Life on the fringes: People, places and our' wear-with-al* ' "What we wear and why -- maybe 'the cord' is meant to remind us of our not-so-secretive past . . . Numbers 16:37 -- are the cords an "allusion to our past pr-stitution?" יהוה said to Moses as follows: דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י … [Read more...]