Tag: Torah sparks by Rabbi Schell
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Ezekiel’s picturesque and provocative prophecies
Chaverim,The last few weeks, we have studied the book of Ezekiel in our breakfast study every Shabbat. This Shabbat we conclude our studies on Ezekiel and therefore it is a wonderful coincidence that the Haftarah is of the same last chapters of this, perhaps the most unusual book of the Bible. Aside from Ezekiel’s picturesque and…
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Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei and International Women’s day: Examples of gratitude
Chaverim,The double portion Vayakhel-Pekudei presents Moses’ speech to the Israelite community at one of the many special gatherings during their wanderings in the desert. The speech opens with a brief restatement of the commandment to keep the Sabbath. However, the topic of Moses’ message is the building of the Tabernacle. Moses solicits gifts—gold, silver, copper,…
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Ki Tisa: A second chance
Chaverim,This week’s Torah portion interrupts the description of the building of the Tabernacle with a narrative section that includes the story of the Golden Calf, and — although perhaps less famously — the most chutzpadik (impertinent) question in the whole Torah. The question comes after Moses has negotiated twice with God on behalf of the Israelites, with…
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How can we remember on Shabbat Zachor?
Chaverim,I have always been intrigued by the commandment ‘you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget it’ (Deuteronomy 25:19). Simultaneously we are told to ‘blot out the remembrance’ and to ‘not forget it’; two instructions which appear to be contradictory. This challenge is further compounded by the fact…
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Shabbat Teruma: Make Me a sanctuary
Chaverim,Last week, I shared with you the sad news of the passing of Michael Brookstone, a member of our Introduction to Judaism programme. Many of you met this gentle man, who despite the many hardships he had to endure in his life, always had a smile for others and the will to continue to follow…
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Parashat Yitro: Who am I and who is my neighbour?
Chaverim,The first Mishna in the tractate Rosh Hashana informs us of various ‘new years’. These are times of the year that are considered the beginning of the annual calendar with regard to various laws. The Rosh Hashana for trees is the fifteenth day of the month of Sh’vat, more famously known as ‘Tu Bi Sh‘vat’.…
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Parashat Beshalach: We don’t need miracles
Chaverim,The story of the liberation from Egypt is the cornerstone of Jewish existence. Or is it? Read the Torah portion again, and you will find that what is most striking is not the miracles — wondrous as they may be. What is particularly noteworthy is how quickly the Israelites forget about their redemption. Barely did they…
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Parashat Bo: Ask questions and grow
Chaverim,It is a wonderful coincidence that our Torah reading, parshat Bo, the section that deals with the culminating plagues and the exodus, turns three times to the subject of children and the duty to educate them, when we, at Bet David, have our Back to School service and the opening of the cheder for 2018.…
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Parashat Va’eira: Each person has a name.
Each person has a name.We each have a name given by God and given by our father and mother.We each have a name given by our stature and smile and given by our attire.… We each have a name given by the sea and given by our death. (Poem by Zelda, Mishkan T’filah, ed., Elyse…
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Let us not allow “collective forgetting”
One of the most haunting and alarming verses in the Torah comes at the beginning of this week’s portion of Sh’mot: “A new king arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph”(Ex 1:8). The Torah imagines that despite Joseph’s insight and intelligence which saved Egypt from ruin, Egypt forgot that story so completely, that the…
