Parashat Ke Tetse; Deutrronomy 21:10 to 25: 19 Have you ever wondered why the Shabbatot and other Jewish holidays begin in the evening? The rest of the world begins its observances and celebrations in the morning but Jews maintain this odd custom. We begin in the evening. The technical answer to the question is contained in the ordering of the words in […]
Torah Portion Re’eh September 2-3, 2016
29th of Av, 5775 – This week’s Torah portion Re’eh has a one word title. The title opens a series of observations set forth by Moses as he concludes his life’s work. Reading this week’s Torah portion and the entire book of Deuteronomy as an ethical will lends gravitas to the moment. Indeed the book is divided […]
Do the teachings about the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) and the Exile (Galut) Remain Relevant?
Shabbat Devarim/Tisha B’Av, 5776 August 12-13 2016 – This coming Shabbat is the 9th Day of Av, Tisha b-Av. The Shabbat’s Torah reading is the opening of Moses’ oration encompassing most of the book Deuteronomy (Devarim). We will focus on this book next week. Our focus this week is on the “black fast.” This solemn commemoration […]
Pinchas
July 29th, 2016/23 Tammuz 5776 – Pinchas is an extremely problematic figure. The Jewish tradition developed several radically different approaches in teaching about this Torah portion. To bring you up to date. At the end of last week’s Torah portion Pinchas acts as judge, jury, and executioner. In his righteous indignation he kills a prince of […]
The Immutable: A Mystery of Transformation in the Face of Death
Parashat Chukat 9th and 10th of Tammuz, 5776; July 15 and 17, 2016 – This week’s Torah portion Chukat (Numbers 19:1 to 21:1) is a rich trove of paradoxical challenges. Understanding this Torah portion led our sages into new depths of textual and conceptual ingenuity. At the center of this Torah portion is the arational ritual of […]
Difficult, Diffident Desert Leadership – Winning the hearts and minds?
24th June, 2016/18 Sivan 5776 Moses is confronted by the mob: “If only we had meat to eat!” (Numbers 11:4). This demand comes a little over two years into their sojourn out of slavery. They were encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai until very recently. The journey was recently resumed and the challenges appear. […]