E Pluribus Unum

Our role on this earth is easier than we think. We don't have to become mystics floating on the top of a mountain to increase holiness on earth.

Government involvement in health insurance is a mess, why conservatives prefer community help to government intrusion, the difference between health care & health insurance, and would it kill the MLB to stay apolitical? Plus, does your work matter? 

A surface dive into the unique traditions and customs of Passover.

The Jewish holiday of Passover is a connection to the national past. By connecting to the past, we are able to appreciate our present and make deliberate choices about our future. The benefits of celebrating a personal, or communal, exodus are endless.

Just because something is natural doesn't mean it's good. The third book of the Torah starts with a description of sacrifices. The Hebrew word for sacrifice is Korban, with the root "to come close." We come closer to God by elevating our humanity above our animal instincts.

What if everything you know is wrong? It is important to periodically ask oneself that question, and then do research to understand why we believe what we believe (or why we should change our minds.) The news is providing different stories to the right and left - no wonder we all think the other side is nuts.

In the final two portions of Exodus, we learn again about the building of the Mishkan. The repetition of these details is an indication of how important the Mishkan is to God...and our continued reading of the Bible is an indication of how important it is to us. Plus, why we should care what other people think about us. 

International Women's Day celebrates women, and so do I. What about women are we celebrating...the ways that they are like men, or the ways in which they are unique? Women's success should be based upon a female standard, not "living up" to men.

The sin of the Golden Calf is a major story in the Bible. This episode in Israelite history has a lot to teach us about the balance of compassion and justice. Plus, National Day of Unplugging.

Having an official national language can help us find unity. It is the only way we can all communicate, connect to our history, and work together to find solutions to problems.