Category: Torah
-
Parashat Va’etchanan: Listen O Yisrael
Chaverim,Moses looks at the Promised Land by the banks of the river Jordan, and continues his final speech to the Israelites before he dies. He pleads with God to allow him to enter the Land of Israel, but he is refused. Once again Moses stresses to the Israelites the importance of keeping God’s commandments when…
-
Devarim: A story is a powerful instrument for overcoming despair
Chaverim, In the first portion of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses begins a series of farewell addresses to the Israelites. The task before Moses is an enormous one; he wants to remind the Israelites of what came before—interpreted now through his perspective—and he wants to give them a vision for the future. He is entirely…
-
Parashat Masei: The grass only looks greener from far away
Chaverim, This week’s portion summarises the entire route followed by the Israelites from when they left Egypt until they were ready to enter Eretz Yisrael. The parsha begins, “Moshe wrote their going forth according to their journeys.” At the end of that same verse this idea is repeated, but the words are reversed: “And these were their…
-
Parashat Matot: Thought and action should be unified.
If a man vows a vow to God, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Bamidbar 30:3) Chaverim, Speech is a defining human quality. The ability to articulate our thoughts into specific words…
-
Pinchas: The achievement of Zelophehad’s daughters
In this week’s Torah portion, the daughters of Zelophehad petition to inherit their father’s portion. The story of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah (Numbers 27:1-11) encapsulates the challenges that women faced and what they had to do in order to affirm their rights with dignity.We might expect that women, heirs to Egyptian slavery and…
-
Sh’lach lecha: See it with your own eyes
Chaverim, Once a year, I travel back to Germany to see my family and friends, but also to see for myself how things are, back in Europe. Things have changed since I moved to South Africa, nearly five years ago. Of course Chayim tells me of his impressions, I read the news, see what friends…
-
Shavuot: No shofar, seder, Chanukah candles or sukkah, but Torah – only Torah
Chaverim,This coming Sunday we will observe Shavuot, the day we celebrate receiving the Torah. Unique among our holidays, it has no specific mitzvah associated with it. With no shofar, seder, Chanukah candles or sukkah, there is little to grab the attention of all but the most serious of Jews.It’s precisely because Shavuot celebrates the gift…
-
Bechukotai: Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do
Chaverim,Many Reform siddur editors have been bothered by the biblical language of retribution as they appear in our Torah portion Bechukotai and in various parts of Deuteronomy. The same holds true for many congregants. On the Shabbatot when these portions are scheduled to be read, often the baal korei (Torah reader) will chant them quickly at a…
-
Behar: Thinking long-term
Chaverim,After several chapters about purity and the sacrificial system, our Torah portion “Behar”, feels it 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…
