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Chief Rabbi Warren GoldsteinAuthor: Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein
Insights, ideas and inspiration mined from the weekly Torah portion and the classic commentaries, and distilled by South African Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein. Known as a "spiritual entrepreneur", Rabbi Goldstein has launched and led a number of initiatives that have changed the face not only of his own community, but of world Jewry. In the Language of Tomorrow, he explores the Torah's vision for creating a better society, and an inspired, meaningful life. Language: en Genres: Judaism, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What Are Your Values Worth? | Parsha with the Chief: Emor
Wednesday, 29 April, 2026
We all have values. Family. Faith. Integrity. Honesty in business. Loyalty in marriage. We list them so easily it can feel like having them is settled. In this week's talk on the Parsha of Emor, the Chief Rabbi opens with a question that sounds simple. It turns out not to be: what is a value? We begin somewhere unexpected: economics. In economic terms, something is worth only what someone is prepared to pay for it. What does that say about the things we claim to value? Drawing on Pirkei Avot, the Sefer HaChinuch, and the structure of the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer, the Torah introduces a deeper question about value. One that is not so easily reduced to price. And leaves us with a question many would rather not answer. Key Questions Is a value still a value if you're not prepared to pay for it? Where does the very idea of intrinsic worth come from? Can a society have objective values without God? Why are the values we say we have so often the values we don't live?
