Rabbi Mordecai Finley
Thoughts Before Rosh HaShanah
Two parts: — Preface to Shabbat Thought – Regret and Renewal – Thought on the Shabbat Before Rosh HaShanah — Shabbat Thought – “Points of...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- May 19
- 4 min
Gemstones, Banners and InsigniasComments on Torah Portion Ba-Midbar
Gemstones, Banners and Insignias Comments on Torah Portion Ba-Midbar Warning: There will be a homework assignment at the end of this...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- May 12
- 5 min
Know the Truth in Your Heart
(Image from Shutterstock, to indicate the Reclining Walls of the Study Hall hall Baba Metzia 59b) “Know the Truth in Your Heart” (adapted...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- May 5
- 4 min
The Gifts of the Holy Days
Thoughts on Torah Portion Emor 2023 Our Torah portion, Emor, has the most detailed list in the Torah of our Festivals and other Holy...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Apr 21
- 3 min
Fear and The Remedy - Comments on Torah Portion Tazria-Metzora
Fear and the Remedy Thoughts on Torah portion Tazria-Metzora 2023 (adapted from previous years) This week’s Torah portion is about mass...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley
- Apr 14
- 5 min
Aaron's Silence - Comments on Torah Portion Shemini
Aaron’s Silence Comments on Torah Portion Shemini 2023 Please resist the temptation to moralize about the main narrative in our Torah...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- Mar 24
- 4 min
Freedom, Liberty and Comedy at Passover
Comments before Passover 2023 (Coinciding with Torah portion VaYikra) We are approaching Passover, the first night falling on the evening...
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Rabbi Mordecai Finley Ph.D.
- Jan 13
- 4 min
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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