This week’s Parshiot, a double, Matot-Maasey, is quite disturbing. Not surprisingly, it coincides with the incredulous events taking place in Israel today, specifically, the challenges to the judicial system and the threat to an already fragile democratic society. It parallels the Parsha in the sense that how a people acquires the power, morally and spiritually, to succeed in creating a society based upon justice and loving kindness is in question. Do we not see this struggle in many countries throughout the world?
Read MoreThese past couple of weeks we have been treated to several juicy or “Jewcy” stories from the Torah portions. From Chukat we learn of the death of Miriam and Aaron and the new challenges to leadership in the Israelite community. From Balak we learn of the efforts to stop the Israelites from reaching the Land of Promise and the surprise blessing they receive from the desert prophet Bilaam.
Read MoreParshat Chukat is filled with mystery and meaning.
It begins with God’s instruction to Moses and Aaron to tell the people to sacrifice a red heifer that is free from blemish (nearly impossible to find), and which has never been yoked. Its ashes are then to be used in a ritual of purification to release individuals from impurity. As many of our sages commented, this was an irrational or supra-rational instruction. In subsequent verses we see how important it was for the supplicant to cleanse himself and his clothing after contact with a corpse. It is obvious that transitions of life and death had great significance then, as they do now. Transitions become sacred or meaningful for us, as for them, when marked by rituals for the cleansing of body, mind and spirit.
Read MoreThis week we read about Parshat Korach, Moses’ Levite cousin who leads a deeply threatening rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
Read MoreAre you planning a trip to Israel? The West Bank? Do you have an updated guidebook? Is it safe?
Read MoreFrom this weeks Parsha, Bahaalotecha:
“The Ineffable spoke to Moses. Speak to each Israelite saying ‘when you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.”
Read MoreThis week we read Parshat Naso.
Who carries the debt, the responsibility, of the nation? “And G!d spoke to Moses saying ‘lift up each of the descendants of Gershon’…”. And later “V’Nasu, they shall 'carry' the Tabernacle’s tapestries, the skin cloths, and drapes…etc”.
Read MoreThis Thursday evening begins Shavuot, the first harvest festival and the commemoration of our people’s receiving Torah at Sinai.
It troubles me that so many Jews do not know it is Shavuot. While it is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals along with Pesach and Sukkot, it does not have the recognition that Pesach does, nor Sukkot.
Read MoreFrom BaMidbar “ 1. And the Ineffable spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai in the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month in the second year from their departure from the land of Egypt, saying: 2. Raise up the heads of all the congregation of the children of Israel.” (BaMidbar 1:1-2)
Many translators translate the second verse as “count or take a census of the heads…”. But the Hebrew, Se’u, has greater depth. The Ishbitzer Rav and other commentators teach us that each person is unique and that each person will be lifted up or spiritually elevated in their relationship to self, others, God and life.
Read MoreCreating Conscious Community is the overriding theme of the Book of Leviticus.
Each Parsha takes us to a new level of understanding in building a community and a society that is based upon personal and collective accountability before the Source of All, with ourselves, with each other, with animals and with the land.
Read MoreThis week’s Parsha, Emor, begins with an intimate conversation between Moshe and the Cohanim. They are reminded of their unique role in the community and in the creation of a conscious community and a people that is compassionate, just, aware of and appreciative of the Ineffable Source of Life.
Read MoreFirst of all, our Hanukat HaBayit was a wonderful event. Fifty plus folks celebrated the opening of the new Am Kolel Judaic Resource Center in Rockville. Many of us have not seen each other in years. The new Center represents the newest chapter in Am Kolel’s history serving the community. In addition to a hamish davenning space, we house the Rae Alice and Bernard Cohen Library of some 2000 volumes. We’re very grateful to librarians Susan Freiband, Ellen Sher and volunteers for setting it up. Most of the art in the house is art created by local Jewish artists and the room has been designated as a rotating gallery. We hope the new Center will be a place of meeting and learning for the artists and others. Several old timers from the Jewish Folk Arts Festival were present including Avrum Ashery, Nessa Spitzer and Danny Siegel, the poet. Theo Stone and Frank Sparber, of the Fabrangen Fiddlers, Rosana Azar and Janeane Marks lead singing.
Read MoreThis week we witness the rebirth and beauty of spring. For many of us, it is most welcome. For some with allergies, Oy! This Shabbat is also Earth Day! Of course, every Shabbat is an earth day, when we traditionally refrain from disturbing the earth, no plowing, planting, cutting, harvesting etc… to be in harmony with the natural world.
Read MoreAs we leave Pesach, I just wanted to share with you a major focus of these last one or two days. The words from Isaiah lay out a vision for Messianic time, a world of harmoniousness between peoples, animals and the earth. This future vision has also been compared to the Garden of Eden, the difference being that we, human beings, need to take the steps to make it happen. The verses from Isaiah ring very powerfully in Christianity and set the theology for the emergence of Jesus. I have enjoyed the interpretation of the Ishbitzer Rav, Mordecai Joseph Leiner, a Hassidic master of the 19th century who taught that each of us contains the light of the Mashiach within. Please note the beauty and power of Isaiah’s words below directed to each of us.
Read MoreWe note in the Mishna, some 2000 years ago, how Rabbi Gamliel and his colleagues gave structure to the Seder. In fact, the traditional Haggadah from the early Middle Ages opens with several sages planning the revolt against Rome.
Read MoreLast week the Book of Numbers, VaYikra, opened with animal sacrifices and how animals and other kinds of offerings were intended to draw the people closer (korban) to God and to each other.
Read MoreThis past Shabbat we concluded the Book of Exodus with establishment of the Mishkan, the sacred structure. So what now? Can the Israelites now continue on their journey to the Land of Promise?
Read MoreThis week’s Parsha, Vayakel-Pekudei, perfectly coincides with the creation of our new Mishkan at 1729 Wilmart Street. The Parsha describes in great detail the contributions and the commitment of the people in creating their sacred center as they prepare to move forward on their journey.
Read MoreThis week’s Parsha, Ki Tisa, brings us to the conclusion of the Torah passages that recount the construction of the Sacred Center, the Mishkan, and its contents, the centrality of spiritual leadership and the significance of ritual offerings.
Read MoreThis Shabbat is known as the Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance. Since it is the Sabbath preceding Purim, the special Haftarah, a reading from the Prophets, recalls how Samuel instructs Saul to “strike down Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, killing every man, women and child, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”
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