Recriminations
Thoughts on Torah Portion Shemot 2023 Our names give us a stable reference for others, but we, the persons behind the names, know that we...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Aug 6, 2022
- 4 min
Seekers of Truth Among the Ruins - The 9th of Av
Seekers of Truth Among the Ruins Thoughts on the Sabbath Before the 9th of Av (Parshat Devarim) 2022 Well-being is within your reach....
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Jun 12, 2022
- 5 min
Knowledge, Will and Blessings
Knowledge, Will and Blessings Thoughts on Torah Portion Naso 2022 (adapted from previous versions) This Torah portion, Naso (Numbers...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- May 9, 2022
- 4 min
Be Holy - Kedoshim 2022
A holy person acts differently from other people. A holy person is separated from other people. A holy person knows something that a...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Mar 28, 2022
- 2 min
Parenting the Soul of Your Child - Description of Class
Parenting the soul of your child The Challenge: Parents typically seek my advice about issues of their children’s compliance with...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Mar 25, 2022
- 5 min
Aaron's Silence - Comment on Torah Portion Shemini
Aaron’s Silence Comments on Torah Portion Shemini 2022 Two young men meet a sudden, tragic death in our Torah portion. The scene is...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Mar 4, 2022
- 3 min
The Cloud, the Fire and the Voice - Torah Portion Pekudei
The Cloud, the Fire and the Voice Thoughts on Torah Portion Pekudei Rabbi Mordecai Finley, Ph. D. The fire that appeared in the burning...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Dec 17, 2021
- 4 min
The Struggle for the Blessing - Torah Portion Va-Yechi
The Struggle for the Blessing Torah Portion VaYechi 2021 (adapted from previous versions) When I was a graduate student at USC, I...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- Sep 16, 2021
- 4 min
FROM THE SHADOW TO THE COMFORTING SHADE
Thought on the Days of Awe and Joy The Days of Awe and Days of Joy (Rosh HaShanah, the 10 Days of Turning, Yom Kippur and Sukkot) form a...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Aug 1, 2021
- 5 min
Revering, Walking, Loving, Serving
Revering, Walking, Loving, Serving Reflections of Torah portion Ekev 2021 (from previous versions) This week’s Torah potion, Ekev, has a...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Jul 23, 2021
- 3 min
Torah Portion Va-Etchanan - Holy Ground
This week is the first of seven weeks that take us to Rosh HaShanah. This week’s Torah portion is an excellent first step. We have here...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Apr 2, 2021
- 3 min
The Second Step into the Sea
In the Bible, Passover is a seven-day observance, with the first and last days being holidays. The middle days are called “chol ha-mo’ed”...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Nov 27, 2020
- 4 min
From Darkness to Wisdom
From Darkness to Wisdom Thoughts on Torah Portion Vayeitzei 2020 (adapted from 2018) I can imagine Jacob justifiably bemoaning his fate...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Oct 16, 2020
- 3 min
How the First Verses of the Torah Came to be Written - A Conjecture
“How did things get this way?” is probably one of the first things that ancient human beings asked. Not most of them, for sure. Like...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Jul 25, 2020
- 4 min
Seekers of Truth Among the Ruins - Comments on the Shabbat Before the 9th of Av
Seekers of Truth Among the Ruins Thoughts on the Sabbath Before the 9th of Av (Parshat Devarim) Well-being is within your reach. We’ve...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Jun 6, 2020
- 4 min
Knowledge, Will and Blessings - Comments on Torah Portion Naso
Knowledge, Will and Blessings Thoughts on Torah Portion Naso 2020 (adapted from 2019) I often meet with a person who is looking to change...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- Mar 22, 2019
- 5 min
The Will
Torah Portion Tzav 2019 How do we image the inner life? There are many maps and metaphors for depicting the dynamics of inner work, but...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- Feb 1, 2019
- 5 min
The Dutch, Rye Whiskey, Clint Eastwood, Dwight Eisenhower, etc.
Random Thoughts on Torah portion Mishpatim I Our Torah portion begins with laws about slavery. Who begins their Constitution with laws...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- Jan 11, 2019
- 3 min
The Inner Pharaoh and Truth Within
Torah Portion Bo The Jewish tradition loves serious play with words. This week’s Torah portion begins with God telling Moses, “Go to...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- Jun 15, 2018
- 4 min
Cracking the Lies
Reflections on the Daily Spiritual Practice #4 Here is where we are at in my series on "setting up and maintaining a daily practice":...
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