Evergreen

Some Jewish thinkers condone homosexuality, despite the condemnation of homosexual sex in Jewish law.

The deaths of Nadav and Avihu, Aaron's sons, teach us the value and also danger of spontaneous religious expression.

Jewish dietary practices allow us to welcome the sacred into our daily lives and into mundane acts.

The complex rules of thanksgiving offering ensured that it enabled the public participation of the broader community in thanking God.

God tells Moses to describe the rituals for some of the offerings to the priests; the priests then undergo the process of ordination.

Like the fire that always burned on the altar, we should make sure that our inner fires of compassion always inspire us to work for justice.

The thanksgiving offering teaches us the importance of thanking God as a communal sharing of faith and appreciation.

Zealousness regarding the elevation offering reminds us to be careful in our service of God and others.

Our spiritual leaders must always remember that the sanctity of human life should never supercede devotion to God.

Despite the occasional need for private expressions of Judaism, we must remember our connection to the larger public community.