Parsha B’ha’alotcha: A Depressing Torah?

This week we get to re-visit a very strange parsha (weekly Torah portion).  It is called B’ha’alotcha which means, “When you raise up,”  and is referring to the candles of the menorah.   This will make more sense if we begin at the beginning of the parsha, which starts with… you guessed it… haShem (god) speaking to Moshe (Moses). This time he is to tell Aharon that when he raises up the candles, towards the face of the menorah (candelabra) the … Continue reading

Parsha Lech L’cha: What Do the Words Really Mean?

As I read the parsha (weekly Torah portion) in Hebrew, I like to to pretend that names are not just names, but that they mean something.  This give me the freedom to translate them.  The text takes on a new meaning in the process.  For example, in this week’s parsha, Lech lecha (go to yourself is a translation from Hebrew), we find Avram setting up an alter between two towns:  Bet-El and Ai, and from there he calls to god … Continue reading