In this week's Torah portion, Tzav, the Torah continues its description from last week of the sacrifices and their rituals. For us, living in the current period of time in the Western world, animal sacrifice is fairly foreign and seems in many respects...
This week we start the public reading of Leviticus, the third book of the Torah. The name "Leviticus" is derived from the Greek "Levitikon/the Levites," referring to the tribe of Levi from which the ancient Israelite priests and their attendants were...
BY RABBI ROXANNE J.S. SHAPIRO
• Published February 23, 2011
In this week's Torah portion Vayakhel, we read Moses' account of all of the things that God has commanded concerning the building of the Mishkan (sanctuary), the donations that followed, and about the actual work of construction. Inspired by God's statement...
By Rabbi James Stone Goodman
• Published February 9, 2011
You asked me why Moses our teacherwas not present in the story this week. He is present, I said, but hidden -or quiet, I said,he is the you in the first line [Ex.27:20]Now you shall command the children of Israelthen he recedes to where he lives- the...
By Rabbi James Stone Goodman
• Published January 19, 2011
How we received Yitro is an us-and-them problemhe gave us something additionalthis priest of Midiansomething unexpectedhis name was Yeter [Hebrew for additional]he brought additional wisdomsomething from the outside. Once we integrated his wisdomhe became...
BY RABBI JOSEF A. DAVIDSON
• Published December 29, 2010
Moses has been disappointed by the reception he has received at the hands of both the Pharaoh and the Israelites. The Pharaoh's response to God's demand to "let My people go" was to place an even heavier burden upon the Israelites. As a result, the Israelites...
BY RABBI DALE SCHREIBER
• Published December 22, 2010
This week we begin the Book of Exodus. It has other names as well. In Hebrew it is referred to as the Book of Names (Shemot). During the ninth century, it was called the Second Book as commentators saw it as an extension of the Book of Genesis. In the...
BY RABBI SEVERINE HAZIZA-SOKOL
• Published December 15, 2010
In Va-y'chi we witness the only deathbed scene in the entire Torah. Our patriarch Jacob prepares for his departure from this world. And yet the parasha is not deliberately morbid, confining and drained of vitality. The first words we read place emphasis...
Anyone hurt by a close family member will relate to Joseph in this week's Torah portion, Vayigash. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph manages to become the second-in-command viceroy to Egypt's Pharaoh. Unrecognized by his brothers, who...
By Rabbi Seth D Gordon
• Published November 24, 2010
Even a casual read of this week's parashah reveals that the narrative shifts from Ya'akov to his children; Yoseph assumes the lead role, and Yehudah, Re'uven and his other brothers are his supporting cast. But Ya'akov remains the subject of the opening...
As the holiday season approaches, I find myself thinking about what an overwhelming and emotional time of year this is for many people. Some of us love the holidays - the smells of turkeys roasting and latkes frying, extended celebrations with family...
By Rabbi Josef A. Davidson
• Published November 10, 2010
Jacob brought his brother's anger upon himself in last week's Torah portion, Toldot, when he tricked the blind Isaac into giving him Esau's blessing. Esau vowed to kill his fraternal twin brother following his father's death. Rebecca, ever the director...
