Uncategorized
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 of Levi, the Levites, are included in the priestly class is because of the golden…
Read MoreLighting 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 he went to do it, it was prepared for him, it was filled with oil…
Read MoreYou 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 wilderness. The English name, Numbers, is significant because in the first few verses of this…
Read MoreAnd 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 chukim) and eid (plural eidot). The eid are testimonials or “witnessing” given to the Jewish…
Read MoreOn 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 place upon its head and it is driven from the camp and thrown off a…
Read MoreSpeak 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. The word metzora comes from two words, motzi meaning to bring forth and ra meaning evil. So…
Read MoreCrazy 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 Aaron (the High Priest) will make and how many will be made for the people…
Read MoreThe Heart of the Matter
This week’s portion is Vayikra, the first portion of Leviticus (Vayikra). I found it interesting to learn that Jewish children are taught this book first rather than the first book, Genesis. The Rabbis teach us that it is because the offerings of this book are pure, like the heart of little children. In this portion…
Read MoreHoly Spirit Glasses
This week’s portion is Ki Tisa which is centered around a character named Betzalel. Commentary on this portion gives us the words “mach shavot” or “skillful works that he had done”. The idea is that Adonai has given Betzelal particular skills as a craftsman that are to be used in the construction of the mishkan…
Read MoreA Tale of Two (?) Wives
This week’s Torah portion is Chayei Sarah. Now we know the backstory is that Sarah has been unable to bear a child for Abraham. So G-d promises her that he will grant her a child. But… just in case, Abraham takes another wife whose name is Hagar. Who is Hagar? Well, she is a daughter…
Read More