Meet the Kosher Pastor
Hi, I’m Matt McKeown also known as the Kosher Pastor, welcoming you to my online home. Are you ready for a pastor with an A.K.A? Hang in with me for a bit — you might be surprised. I’m the Associate Read more…
Journeys
This week we have a double portion, Matot-Massei. These portions speak of the journeys of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. Why is the word journeys plural here in the Torah? The answer is about the 42 encampments Read more…
The Scarlet Pagans?
So I am going to take you back a few chapters before getting to this week’s portion, Pinchas. In Numbers 15 we were given the commandment of tzitzit, the wearing of tasseled or fringed garments. The sages say that the Read more…
The Missing Letter
This week’s Torah portion is Shelach. But before we delve into that I would like to thank everyone for the positive response we have had to Kosher Pastor. We have had dozens of people signing up for the program from Read more…
Sins of The World
The sin of the worship of the golden calf is central to Jewish history and the impact of that sin on the history of the Jewish people cannot be overstated. To begin with, the only reason that the descendants Read more…
Lighting The Way
This week’s portion is Naso, but I want to address more specifically what is happening around the world and inn our country right now. Our sages say that when Aaron was growing up his job was lighting the menorah. When Read more…
You Are Counted
This weeks’s portion is Bamidbar and it is the first portion in our new book of Numbers. It does not, however, mean numbers. It actually means “in the wilderness”. In this book the children of Israel are, indeed, in the Read more…
And It Shall Be Done
This week, another double portion – Behar and Bechukotai. I am going to focus on the latter which literally means “by my decree”. There are three types of commandments that we encounter in the bible. Mishpat (plural mishpatim), chok (plural Read more…
On The Other Hand
Again we have a double portion, Achrei Mot and Kedoshim. Today I am focused on Achrei Mot – the scapegoat. The portion tells us there are two goats. One is for sacrifice. The other, all the sins of Israel are Read more…
Speak No Evil
This week we have two portions – Tazria and Metzora – often referred to together. And this blog will be pulling commentary or interpretation from many sources. The Talmud asks why those affected with biblical leprosy or tzara at are called metzora. Read more…
Crazy Eights
This week’s portion is Shemini, which means “eighth” – literally it was the “eighth day of assembly”. This portion is about the numbers. there are a couple of strands here. First, there are prescriptions for the number of sacrifices that Read more…