Shmos

Shmos:
You People
Filling Gaps in Moshe's Formative Years
Understanding Purpose in Life - Coming of Age
For These I Cry - We Can't Give up on Jewish children
Why a Snake?
Doing Egypt a Favor - why taking of Egypt's bounty was good for the Egyptians
The Mysterious Hotel Incident
Moshe's Destiny - To Never Enter the Land - a lesson in understanding goals in life
The Human Side of Pharaoh - Taking Away Stereotypes (while not excusing bad behavior)
The Word of God, a Priority for All
The Shtick of Each Stick - Differences Between the Roles of Moshe and Aharon
Forbidden Relationship of Amram and Yocheved?
Torah is a Lease on Life - Getting inspiration from the Elderly
Pharaoh's Free Will and Our Own
Seeing Your Problem For What It Really Is - why a threat to the Jewish people (and the world) must be dealt with (post France terrorism in January 2015)
Nuanced Respect - Moshe and Aharon, or Aharon and Moshe (with a tribute to my Babi, a"h)
Nominated for Best Supporting Role - a tribute to the role played by Moshe's brother, Aharon
Nachash and Tannin - which staff turned to what, with an important lesson about opening our eyes to learning new ideas
Distinction Between Peoples - The message of Arov, distinction between Jews and others, and a thought about the "Chosen People"
פדת - A Redemption From Three Exiles

Bo:
Moshe Rabbenu Shares the Priorities of Israel

B'Shalach:
The Pillars Which Never Left
Elevating Religiosity - What inspires us to get closer to God
Getting Angry, Speaking Calmly - The importance of keeping our cool even when we can't believe what others are doing
Taking Yosef's Bones - a Lesson in priorities
The Tragedy of Manipulation and Coercion
How the Illness of Egypt Will Not Be Upon You
Hard to See Water, Hard to Change Your Life - Why the 3-day journey from the Sea was a microcosm of the challenges facing the recently freed slave-nation of Israel
Different Yokes for Different Jewish Folks - on the many aspects of living and living a Jewish life
Adjudication and Compromise: Different Goals and Outcomes in Conflict Resolution
Sticking With God Even When Going Gets Tough
Torah is a Unifier When Accepted with Humility
The Politics of Freedom - The Covenant at Sinai
Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation
A Truly Humble Leader - how clearly Moshe operated only for the glory of God.
Moshe Goes "el HaElokim" to Find God
The Unified Commitment - a code of behavior upon which we can (hopefully) all agree
Thou Shalt Not Murder - the obvious kind and the not as obvious
How Idolatry Can Destroy Shabbos and Yom Tov
Mentorship 101 - How Yehoshua trained to take over for Moshe
To Protect Others From Falling - being mindful not to cause others to sin in thought or in deed
Naaseh V'Nishma - different interpretations of the seminal phrase of Torah acceptance
Having to Live With Ourselves - on involuntary manslaughter
The Testimony I Give You
Keruvim as a Model for Relationships
Make For Yourselves Graven Images
The Symbolism of the Menorah
Symbolism in the Menorah's Branches (very different from link immediately preceding)
MMM (Menorah, Mizbeach and Mishkan) and Divine Inspiration
The Cover That Needs Support - understanding the Kapporet's (cover) placement on the Aron (Ark) and its message for affirming Torah commitment
The Cover Which is the Definition of the Mishkan
Credit When Credit is Due - Compensation is due when one makes a contribution to society
Finding the Good

Tetzaveh:
Moshe - Really not in the parsha? Not true!
God's Three Keys - Life, Death, and the Weather - (taxes anyone?)
Take For YOU - insight to taking charge of your life
Where are the Pants and the Tzitz in 28:4?
Tzitz Reflects a Reminder of God
Is God's Presence Amongst Us Conditional?
Saving the Most Important For Last - why is the Golden Mizbeach listed apart from all other vessels?

Ki Sisa:
The Kiyor - Not "washing our hands" of addressing every Jew's spiritual needs
The "Pure" Menorah - an odd phrase
Leaving the Real Thing for the Real Deal
Aharon's Finest Hour? Not Really... and yet
Too Strict About Shabbos? - insights into what makes or breaks shabbos
Raising the Bar on Shabbos
Celling Your Soul - why the phone belongs OUT of the SYNAGOGUE
Holiest and The Holy of Holies - Difference between Kodesh Kodashim and Kodesh HAKodashim
In Defense of Aharon - how Aharon's intentions and efforts were quite admirable (plus a take-home lesson)
Chur And Becoming a Legend
Moshe Earns His Stripes
How Do We Define Greatness? 
Two Sets of Luchot (and 2 Arks) - religion is not governed by emotions. It is dictated by what God says
The Calling of Self Sacrifice - the role of the kiyor (washbasin) in inspiring the kohanim
How Moshe Dealt With Challenge - Sermon not Delivered at COVID closure
Finding the Good
Talents Vary - Some are God Given, Some Are Learned... and all are important and needed
But My Rebbe Said - Towards Independent Thinking
First New Moon, First Day - An odd repetition introducing the date of building the Mishkan
Moshe's Blessing - Inspiration, leads to the flattery of imitation
First Day of First Month - hmmm. It seems I wrote something similar three years ago (see two above). (In all honesty, I didn't remember, didn't look it up, and while I relooked at some of the same texts, they didn't come out the same - different message, though obviously similar approaches)
The Blessing of Strength (and Infertility Awareness) - a Dvar Torah on "Chazak Chazak V'Nischazek"

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