Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Korach Numbers 16:1 -18:32 No one exempt. That is the rule in Judaism. Everyone must give tzedakah and everyone must tithe. This week’s Torah portion, Korach, makes that extremely clear. It describes the obligations of Levites in this regard. The Levites received all of the sacred offering from the Israelite nation intended for God. …Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Shimini Leviticus 9:1 -11:47 This week’s Torah portion is different. By that I mean if you are a Reform Jew or you live in Israel the Torah portion we read from is Shimini. If you are a Conservative or Orthodox Jew living outside of Israel you are still observing Passover this Shabbat and there…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Mikketz Genesis 41:1-44:17 This week’s Torah Portion Mikketz continues the story of Joseph now in Egypt. This week Joseph rises from the depth of prison to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream and ends up the Viceroy of all of Egypt! This is true rocket power! Joseph a foreign slave catapults himself to be the #2…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Vayeshev Genesis 37:1 – 44:17 Did you ever have a dream that later came true? Dreams are an important part of our psychological make-up. In our sleeping hours we are working through, often mysteriously, issues in our lives. There are lots about dreams we don’t understand though. Much dream work is about the physiological…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Vayishlach Genesis 32:4–36:43 The “Holiday” Season is upon us. There are lots of gatherings of co-workers, friends and families. Some of these gatherings will be reunions of sorts. The people you see only once a year at a cocktail party at a friend’s home. There are the family members who gather for latkes and…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Vayetze Genesis 28:10-32:3 In this week’s Torah portion our Patriarch Jacob learns the lesson of hard work. He learns the lesson of what it means to earn your keep; to sacrifice for something you want. As the Parasha opens Jacob is fleeing from his brother Esau. Esau, his twin, has threatened to kill him…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Toledot Genesis 25:19-28:9 This week’s Torah portion is Toledot. Toledot means generations. It focuses on the life of Isaac and on the birth of his twin sons Esau and Jacob. Interesting the Torah portion actually revolves around food! Perhaps that is one of the ironies this week as we celebrate our Thanksgiving feasts.…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1-25:28 This week’s Torah portion, although named the life of Sarah opens with news of her death and the purchase of her burial place in the Cave of Machpelah which you can still visit in Hebron, Israel. Today let us remember our great Mother –Sarah who was first of the four…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Vayera Genesis 18:1 – 22:24 This is a very rich portion filled with many of the pivotal stories about Abraham and his family. This is the week Abraham challenges God about the plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their behaviors. Jewish tradition teaches that this story is not as so many Christian Fundamentalists…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Lech Lecha Genesis 12:1 – 17:27 This week’s Torah portion Lech Lecha begins the journey of our ancestors Sarah and Abraham toward their encounter with the one God. It is this week that we read about the initial covenant with God and the nascent story of the Jewish people. We read of their…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 