This week is Pentecost/Shavuot/The Feast of Weeks.

Bamidbar, which means “in the wilderness,” is a portion that is always read in the days before the festival of Shavuot, before the giving of the Torah.

Who does this land really belong to? Is ownership a matter of power, history and defense — or only a temporary trust?

There are stories I heard as a child that touched my heart and remained there for a lifetime. The story of the hero Samson is one of them — a story of strength and love, of loneliness and mission.

At first glance, the Torah portion deals with laws: the laws of the priests, the laws of the offerings, and ultimately also the listing of Israel’s appointed festivals.

There are moments in history when it seems as if the world has reached its limits. Society is shaken. The old structures no longer function.

The word holiness often sounds far removed from life, because it is associated with the Temple and with rituals, with special moments or extraordinary people.

It sounds obvious. It isn’t always.

The soul’s ability to hold pain and life together.

What do we do when life suddenly forces us to come to a standstill? Why do we so often experience pausing as a punishment rather than as a protected space?