Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Chukat Numbers 19:1-22 In this week’s Torah portion, Chukat, we encounter the deaths of both Aaron and Miriam. Moses and his siblings were the leaders of the people Israel on their journey to the Promised Land. Of course Aaron was named High Priest and Miriam was called the N’viah, the prophetess. Each had their…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Korach Numbers 16:1-18:32 At the end of this week’s Torah portion (Numbers 18:21-32) the Levites are instructed to tithe a part of their earnings to God. The Torah emphasizes this because all of the Children of Israel are obligated to give one tenth of their produce and their income as an offering to God. …Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Shelach Lecha Numbers 13:1-15:41 I am proud to be a Reform Jew. My family has always been Jewish. We have kept the traditions more or less for hundreds of years. Some of my family has made aliyah to Israel. We have always been a family of Zionists, dreaming of Israel even before the advent…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Shavuot/Parshat Behaalotecha Numbers 8:1 -12:16 This week we celebrate Shavuot-the Feast of Weeks. For the last seven weeks since Pesach we have journeyed through the wilderness to arrive now at the foot of Mt. Sinai and we once again receive the miracle of Torah. I call this the miracle of Torah because each year…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Naso Numbers 4:21 – 7:89 This week’s Torah portion, Naso is the longest weekly Torah portion. It begins with the continuation of the details of two of the Levitical clans, Gershonites and Merarites who along with the third clan of Levites, the Kohathites, have specific duties in relationship to the moveable Tabernacle. These…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Behar/Yom Haatzmaut Leviticus 25:1-26:2 Parshat Behar teaches us about the cycles of the land. Specifically it teaches about the sabbatical year and the Jubilee year. These are cycles of land rest every seventh year and every fiftieth year. Just like Shabbat each week, the seventh day, when human beings and work animals are to…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Emor Leviticus 21:1-24:23 The Torah portion for the week is Emor. This Torah portion continues instruction to the priesthood that is the theme of most of Leviticus. The priesthood is holy to God. In fact, Aaron wears a crown with those very words engraved upon them. The priesthood had special obligations to maintain their…Read more »
Posted by in glbt, Torah Commentary Parshat Kedoshim Leviticus 19:1 -20:27 This week’s Torah portion Kedoshim contains the second explicit verse that is often pointed out condemns gay male sex. Leviticus 20:13 prescribes the death penalty. Of course this entire section of Leviticus has a whole series of punishments for sexual transgressions and idolatry all of which are punishable by death…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Passover Rabbi Denise L. Eger This week we celebrate the amazing festival of Passover! The special Torah reading for this week’s Shabbat is Ex 33:12-34:26. Each day of the festival there are special readings from Exodus and Leviticus and Numbers that focus on Passover, the paschal offering and the observance of Passover in the Bible…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Achrei Mot Leviticus 16:1-18:30 Each year when we come to this week’s Torah portion, Achrei Mot I think about the violence that has been done to gay people reading from Chapter 18, verse 22. “Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is a toevah.” This verse has been…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 