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 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 Parshat Metzora Leviticus 14:1-15:33 This week’s Torah portion, Metzora is a partner portion with last week’s Tazria. Most often these two portions are read together but this is a leap year and they are separated to accommodate the extra Shabbatot. A metzora is one who is afflicted with tzarat. In older Bible translations tzarat was…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Tazria Leviticus 12:1-13:59 The next two weeks of Torah portions, Tazria and Metzora are often the most confounding in the Torah. And certainly the “ick” factor is at work. These portions deal with ritual impurity from childbirth, menstrual blood, skin diseases or rashes, semen and other bodily fluids. It describes spiritual impurities that arise…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Pekude Exodus 38:21 – 40:38 We come to the end of the book of Exodus this week. Often this portion is linked together with Vayakhel. But this is a leap year and we have two months of Adar. And so these portions fill their own week. Jewish tradition teaches us that when Adar enters…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Ki Tissa Exodus 31:1-34:34 There are not too many times in life one gets a “do over”. Except in golf! On the golf course a do over is called a “mulligan”. No one is exactly sure of how the mulligan got its name. One fabled story describes David Mulligan who had a habit of…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 