Lazer Gurkow

3 days ago | israelnationalnews.com | Lazer Gurkow

In this week’s Torah portion, we read about the priestly blessing. G-d designates the kohanim (priests) to be blessers of the Jewish people. They wash their hands in the ritual manner, remove their shoes, stand before the congregation, spread their arms forward, and interlock their fingers. They wrap their heads in a prayer shawl and act as G-d’s channel of blessings to the Jewish people. They begin by reciting a blessing thanking G-d for the privilege of conveying His blessings with love.

4 days ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Lazer Gurkow

Naso: When G-d Shows His LoveIn this week’s Torah portion, we read about the priestly blessing. G-d designates the kohanim (priests) to be blessers of the Jewish people. They wash their hands in the ritual manner, remove their shoes, stand before the congregation, spread their arms forward, and interlock their fingers. They wrap their heads in a prayer shawl and act as G-d’s channel of blessings to the Jewish people.

1 week ago | israelnationalnews.com | Lazer Gurkow

Every year, we read a Torah portion called Bamidbar—in the desert—on the Shabbat before Shavuot. This portion describes the census of the Jews in the desert. Just as we count forty-nine days and then celebrate Shavuot, so should we read about the counting of the Jews and then celebrate Shavuot. This explanation seems random: We match one count to another and merge them into a pre-Shavuot cholent? There must be a deeper message here that underscores the festival of Shavuot.

2 weeks ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Lazer Gurkow

Every year, we read a Torah portion called Bamidbar—in the desert—on the Shabbat before Shavuot. This portion describes the census of the Jews in the desert. Just as we count forty-nine days and then celebrate Shavuot, so should we read about the counting of the Jews and then celebrate Shavuot. This explanation seems random: We match one count to another and merge them into a pre-Shavuot cholent? There must be a deeper message here that underscores the festival of Shavuot.

2 weeks ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Lazer Gurkow

I am not distraught, I am angry. I don’t know why this shooting, this mindless taking of life, was the string that broke my camel’s back, but it did. The suspect says he did it for Palestine. Do you believe him? I don’t. I bet he did it because he was frustrated that no one in the Israeli army paid attention to his wishes. He has a history of marching for “underdogs.” He seems to think that his values are better than those of the unwashed masses, which makes him better and puts him above their law.