Is there a Jewish holiday that celebrates the very PURPOSE of existence? The answer is YES. (And it begins in a few hours.) Shavuos, the time of the giving of the Torah. We Jewish people relive the awesome and utterly unique event of the Revelation at Mt. Sinai. Our entire nation was elevated to a level of prophecy, hearing the 10 Commandments directly from Hashem (or at least the first two--that's a discussion), and perceiving with absolute clarity that Hashem is the One and Only true Being, source and sustainer of all existence. AND author of the holy Torah, which He lovingly GAVE to us in order to instruct us on how to elevate ourselves and all of Creation...and connect it back to Him. "For the sake of the Torah, Hashem created the heavens and the earth." This episode of Rabbi E in 3 was recorded live on Wednesday afternoon, May 24th, in the Great Outdoors (Silver Spring, not the Sinai Wilderness)! Watch the video RIGHT here, or listen to the audio episode of Rabbi E in 3: Link to podcast player: https://player.captivate.fm/.../b4ed503c-3cf8-457a-8a52... OR Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/55YxZw0cVkOpKQZv1HkQdC Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../rabbi-e-in-3/id1541910590

Shavuos is the most underappreciated Jewish holiday, for sure. It's even completely unknown to many Jewish people. Join Rabbi E as we make the final countdown (or count up) to the festival of the giving of the Torah...the (national) Revelation at Mt. Sinai.

Shalom and Happy Purim, everybody!! Rabbi E here, with the briefest of messages...but with the most important message (I believe) of Purim itself. (And of life.) BE REAL. No faking: no deep fake, no shallow fake. Be REAL. Even the custom of dressing up, or masquerading, on Purim is really about directing us to look for and discover what's REAL and TRUE behind the "mask" of nature, or seemingly random events in our life and in the world at large: There is a G-d who created this good and beautiful world, and He guides it even when He seems "hidden" at times. He created us in His image, and our souls are good and pure and true. (The wine we drink on Purim is meant to open us up, and reveal the pure and real goodness within.) The force of evil in this world--internal and external--tries to blind us to what's real and true: that force is itself the real "deep faker!" Let's not fall for his deep fake. Purim celebrates the ultimate triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness, of purpose over "randomness" of holiness over blind naturalism...of REAL over FAKE. I'll drink to that!