Category: Torah
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Parashat Sh’lach Lecha: We looked like grasshoppers to ourselves
I think it’s fair to say that just about everybody knows that the Israelites were condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years – a biblical generation. But what led to it, is less well known. This week’s parashah—Sh’lach Lecha—tells that story.Israel is on the verge of entering the promised Land. Moses, on directions…
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What in God’s name is happening in this, our world?
The news on Sunday was shocking, confusing, and unspeakably tragic.What in God’s name is happening in this, our world? Last week Tel Aviv, this Sunday Orlando, and next week …? There is so much pain.In thousands of places all over the world Jews studied Torah last weekend. We engaged ourselves in those studies, because we…
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The Torah belongs to us all
This coming Sunday we celebrate the giving of the Torah from God to the Jewish people. This extraordinary moment is recorded by the Torah as follows: “You stand this day all of you before Adonai your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, your little…
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Parashat B’midbar – Lift up the head
Coming Sunday (5 June/28 Iyyar) we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, one of several Jewish holidays com-memorating events of war in the modern State of Israel. This one recalls Israel’s regaining of the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967. Despite these modern memorial days, it seems safe to say that we Jews…
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Parashat B’chukotai: Once upon a time there was a king
Once upon a time there was a king who had a wonderful and very large palace. The palace was decorated so beautifully that it took people’s breath away when they entered. There was, however, one very long and wide hall that was empty, for the king couldn’t decide what to do with it.The king decided…
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Parashat Behar: Back to the top
After several chapters about purity and the sacrificial system, our Torah portion “Behar”, feels necessary to refer back once again to the time of the revelation of the Torah. This chapter appears as if it is an afterthought, something that Moses had neglected to mention until now.I am saying this due to the sheer fact…
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Parashat Emor: The real essence of the Torah
A teacher asks his student, “What is the essence of the Shabbat?” She responds, “The essence of Shabbat is that it is a sign of God’s creation of all things in seven days.” “No,” the teacher responds, “that is not the real essence of Shabbat. What really represents the fundamental meaning of the day?” The…
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You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy
The word kadosh is usually translated as “holy,” as in the Holy Land, the Holy of Holies, the Holy Ark, and the High Holy Days. Three times a day, in the K’dushah part of the Amidah, the standing prayer, we say “Holy, Holy, Holy is Adonai Tz’vaot,” which is one of God’s names (Isaiah 6:3).…
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Pesach is our festival to thank God for the many miracles in our lives
Each year we sing Dayeinu as part of our Seder, showing our gratitude to God for all the wonders performed to our ancestors as they went free from Egypt. Though the traditional text encompasses over a dozen items for which we give thanks, many modern Haggadot have added even more to that list, mentioning the…
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Parashat Metzora: Who is in and who is out
After the successful registration last weekend, campaigning has returned to South Africa. And, as a result, it is inevitable that there will be debates about race, empowerment of different classes and the status of foreigners in South Africa. Once again, political leaders will do battle trying to determine who is in and who is out.…
