This week’s Torah portion is Mishpatim, an enumeration of many of the laws and obligations incumbent on the Jewish people. In large part they can be viewed as a sort of extrapolation of the Ten Commandments imparted in the previous week’s parsha. There are laws about how to punish someone who insults their father or mother Continue Reading »
This week’s Torah portion is perhaps the most well-known portion and contains the most powerful and influential writings of any aspect of our Jewish religion and tradition. It is, of course, Parashat Yitro which recounts the giving of the Ten Commandments. While it is beyond my capabilities to impart some new insight into the lessons Continue Reading »
Parashat Beshallach recounts the most famous miracle in Biblical history, the parting of the sea by God for the Israelites to pass into freedom on dry land. When the Israelites reach safety, they sing the Song of the Sea, Shirat Hayam. The song text in every Torah scroll is written to look like columns Continue Reading »
This Shabbat, Temple Beth-El joins with the Union of Reform Judaism and the Jewish Federation of North America to celebrate a Shabbat of Love to embrace our fellow Jews, spread love, and create more Jewish-positive spaces during one of the hardest times in our history and bring a bit of extra warmth through worship and Continue Reading »
This week, we begin studying the book of Exodus. The first chapter is called Sh’mot which translates to English as Names. I will focus my thoughts on one of the most famous stories found in the Torah. God appears to Moses in a burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, and instructs him to Continue Reading »
This Shabbat, as we prepare to turn a page in the secular calendar, we also turn a page in Torah. With Parashat Va-yechi and the death of Jacob, we come to the end of the Book of Genesis and the days of our patriarchs and matriarchs. It is the end of an era, the end Continue Reading »
The story of Joseph and his brothers was about to end in disaster. Having woven a web of revenge around his siblings who had sold him into slavery, Joseph was about to deliver the final blow when his oldest brother Judah made a bold and courageous move. Vayiggash Yehudah… “Judah drew near…” “he approached…” He Continue Reading »
At the beginning of Parshat Miketz, the focus of attention is on Pharoah and his dreams. In his first dream, the exalted King of Egypt saw seven fat cows devoured by seven lean and sickly cows. In his second dream, he saw seven healthy ears of corn on one stalk. And then those seven ears Continue Reading »
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, primarily covers the narrative of Jacob’s journey to Haran, his experiences there, and the beginnings of his family. The majority of this parsha is devoted to the concept of deception. Most of us know that Jacob tricked Esau into giving up his birthright and that Laban outwitted Jacob. In last Continue Reading »
This week’s parashah, Toldot, tells us of the birth of the twin brothers, Jacob and Esau, and how they become bitter rivals. It looks at first like a redux of Cain and Abel, a sobering tale of fratricide, and a prophecy that humanity is doomed to never-ending conflict. Even before they are born, the twins Continue Reading »
