Shikul Da'at

The command "do not covet" is often overlooked. While we can readily see why "do not steal" and "do no murder" are on the list of foundational rules for a holy society, we might wonder why "do not covet" made the list.  Sure, it seems like a good idea? But why is it so important?

Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. In this episode the Shulchan Aruch identifies passages that we are to read each morning and the Mishnah Berurah explains how those can shape our thinking as we head into the new day.

The Midrash tells us that Pharaoh escorted the Israelites as they left Egypt.  How could it be that Pharaoh showed them this respect after all the years of enslavement?  The Shem Mishmuel encourages us not to be deceived by Pharaoh's actions, and not to be deceived in our own lives as we pursue spiritual consciousness. 

Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, the most influential and most widely studied law code in Jewish life. This work addresses Jewish conduct and values governing all dimensions of religious life.  We will often draw on the insights of the Mishnah Berurah to elucidate the teaching of the Shulchan Aruch.  We are currently learning Laws of Personal Conduct in the Morning.  

The Shem Mishmuel has beautiful and life-affirming advice for us. We have to make sure that our hearts are not so covered up with negativity and impurity that we stop feeling.  How do we respond to life's challenges and a world that doesn't seem to care?  What should be our first step? 

Each week we will learn one or more halachot from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day.  

Parshat Bo contains the mitzvah of tefillin. But what is the point of this mitzvah? What does it mean?  A discussion between Rashi and his grandson Rashbam points us to an answer that can help us relate kore deeply to mitzvah.

It seems strange that God is so concerned with proving God's power. Doesn't it seem to diminish God somehow to get in to a power struggle with Pharaoh over the plagues?  And why are the plagues so harsh?  Is God cruel?  The Netziv (19th c) points a way to a clearer understanding of what's really going on.

Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day.  This episode is the first after the introduction, and we start with the Laws of Personal Conduct in the Morning, 1:1 - The Law of Waking Up.