There is an important and timely comment on social ties made at the beginning of our Parasha- one that usually goes unnoticed.

Yitro: The Power of Connection

Take a few minutes to study the parsha with Rabbi Sprung on Thursdays from Bereshit to V'Zot Habracha. Find the Parsha Pick-Me-Up on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Our Torah portion begins with our deepest hope and greatest fear: getting credit for our children or receiving opprobrium. 

Emor: Cursed is that One, Fortunate the Other

Our verse functions as a sort of warning: don’t turn to false gods, since, in the end, you may come to think that they are real.

Kedoshim: The Emperor's New Clothes

Notably, this is not the usual uniform of the High Priest, clothed generally in gold, jewels, and wool. Rashi explains that the gold, reminiscent as it was of the sin of the golden calf, would have been problematic. 

Acharei Mot: Defense or Prosecution

Some stupendous humility may be called for in such a case. Perhaps the teacher of all of the priests is not a priest. Then, that teacher will never be able to declare tzara’at, though his students could. A surprising lesson is contained here.  Listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more. 

Metzora: Expertise versus Authority?

"If a man does well, they say to him, you preceded the angels; if he does not, they say to him: (in creation) the fly preceded you, the gnat preceded you, the snail preceded you." - Reish Lakish But what does this have to do with the laws of Kashrut and ritual purity? 

Yitro: The Power of Connection

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