The root of the word shalom is also shalem, wholeness. Parshat Vayikra reminds us that our life is built on a multitude of offerings, and those offerings are not only meant for what we give to others but also, and just as importantly, what we gift to ourselves.

Sometimes things pair well together, not because they’re similar and not because they’re opposite, but because the whole is greater than the sum of its two parts. Parshat Pekudei reminds us of the connection between our faith and the pursuit of justice, and, more importantly, that religion does not supersede justice.

Mirrors don’t lie. The most honest we can be with ourselves is when we look in the mirror and check the reflection that’s looking back. When you look at it this way, having a mirror isn’t about vanity, it’s about looking ourselves in the eyes and truly discovering who we are and who we want to be.

I’ve been a rabbi for well over a decade, but I still get nervous before I lead almost any service or lifecycle event. Parshat Ki Tissa is an extra reminder, especially while we’re still trying to navigate life in a pandemic, that even the simplest of connections just to touch base with another person is sometimes all the calm we need.

It's because I startle easily in one specific way that Duncan has adopted the considerate habit of making a subtle noise, like snapping, when he walks into whatever room I’m in. Communities, like marriages, are built on respecting another individual, even in wordless greetings.

One of the hardest parts of living through the “stay safe at home” orders was the ability to find a sacred space to call my own. Even without a pandemic, having a sacred space to focus, contemplate, and engage with our thoughts is important. It’s so important, in fact, that the Torah teaches us about it in this week’s Torah portion.