Posted by in Israel, Torah Commentary This week’s Torah portion Ki Tavo gives the Israelites explicit instructions having to do with entering and living in the land of Israel. There are specific rituals outlined to ensure that this group that has been a nomadic tribe for almost 40 years be tied to the holy land of Eretz Yisrael. The Israelites are…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Vayishlach/World AIDS DAY Genesis 32:3-36:43 This week on Shabbat we will observe World AIDS Day. We recall so many of our friends and lovers who have succumbed to the complications of HIV/AIDS. Those very difficult early years when the gay men’s community was decimated have given way to longer lives, better prevention and drugs…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Vayetze Genesis 28:10–32:3 Jacob is on the run. He is on the run from his brother Esau who is upset with him because he “stole” their father’s blessing. At their mother’s urging, Jacob is to go to Haran to her brother’s home. Jacob begins his journey with a dream. The dream he has is…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Toledot Genesis 25:19-28:9 This week’s Torah portion Toledot is about Isaac, the second of our Patriarchs. And yet the Torah portion never really tells us much about it him as it does about the people surrounding him. We only get glimmers of who Isaac is. We learn of his marriage to Rebekkah and the…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Bereshit Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 This week we start the reading of the Torah from the first column of the scroll. This week we read Parshat Bereshit, the very first portion in the Torah and the descriptions of creation as imagined by our ancestors. I say descriptions in the plural because there are at…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Nitzavim Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 This week we read the Torah portion right before Rosh Hashanah, Nitzavim. Shabbat Nitzavim comes literally a day before the New Year. As we read the words, we are literally standing at the edge of the New Year. The Israelites too are standing at the edge of the Promised Land. …Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Ekev Deuteronomy 7:12-11:15 This week’s Torah portion Ekev, continues Moses’ farewell address to the Children of Israel. Moses is trying to prepare the Israelites for entering the Promised Land. Moses reminds them that despite their errors and sins along the journey from Egypt (The Golden Calf, the lies of the spies, the lack of…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Shelach Numbers 13:1-15:41 Do you follow the crowd? When a topic is trending on Twitter or everyone is talking about the great new restaurant, do you have to be in on it? Do you have to see the movie that has all the buzz? Or do you decide for yourself? Do you follow…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Emor Leviticus 21:1-24:23 This past week we observed the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots. Our city burned as the anger about the Rodney King verdicts reached a fever pitch, absolving the white police officers from using police brutality against Rodney King. Even though before our very eyes the grainy black and white…Read more »
Posted by in Torah Commentary Parshat Shimini Leviticus 9:1 -11:47 This week’s Torah portion is different. By that I mean if you are a Reform Jew or you live in Israel the Torah portion we read from is Shimini. If you are a Conservative or Orthodox Jew living outside of Israel you are still observing Passover this Shabbat and there…Read more »
