We are about to enter into Rosh haShanah, and shabbat comes in on its coat-tails. So, while we are getting ready for the Jewish new year, and while there is still time, I want to take a moment to look at this week’s parsha (the Torah portion read on shabbat). It is called haAzinu. HaAzinu means, “Your ears,” and is the first word of this week’s parsha. If you recall from the end of the previous parsha, Moshe (Moses) was … Continue reading
Top of creation folks, This shabbat, according to the Yaakov (Jacob)/Israel family tradition is the anniversary of the first day of creation. Rosh haShanah, one of the 4 Jewish new years, celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the Adam. With the beginning of a new creation, we find in this parsha (weekly Torah portion), an explanation of what the last few parshas have been leading up to… But first, let us review the parsha. This is actually a double … Continue reading
Come on in, the water’s great! Just don’t forget to thank our host. This is how our parsha (weekly Torah portion) starts out. The parsha is called Key Tavoh which means, “Because you will come,” and begins by saying that because you will be coming in to the land haShem (god) promised to give you, you should take the first fruits of the ground and bring them to haShem’s house. We then read of the thanksgiving ritual we do with … Continue reading
We are coming down to the wire and the Torah portions are fast and furious. This week we read from the parsha (Torah portion) called Key taytzay which means when you go out. Our parsha starts out talking about what happens when we go out to war and find a beautiful woman among the captives. This leads into a bit regarding a man having two wives, one whom he loves and the other he hates, and if the hated wife’s … Continue reading
Here comes the judge! This is what this week is all about. You see, this week’s parsha (Torah portion) is called Shotfim which means, “Ones who judge.” The parsha starts out by talking about the judges and policemen that we appoint for ourselves. These folk are to judge the nation righteously, and not take bribes because bribes blinds eyes and perverts the words of the righteous. Justice is what we are to pursue in order to live and settle the … Continue reading
The parsha (weekly Torah portion) we we are reading this week is called R’ay, which is the command form of the verb to see. The parsha begins with Moshe (Moses) commanding the people to see that he is putting before them a blessing and a curse, depending on if they follow in haShem’s (god) way or not. We then read where they are supposed to do this ritual of blessing and curse, and of another warning to follow the laws, … Continue reading
The parsha (weekly Torah portion) we read this shabbat is called Aykev which can mean, “Heel,” or, “To follow,” as in, “And it will follow you listening to these mishpatim (judgements)…” which is how the parsha starts. So, what will happen if we listen? Well, the parsha goes on to say, not just listen, but also observe and do them. And, if we do these things, then haShem (god) will guard for you, the brit (covenant), and the kindness that … Continue reading
In this week’s parsha (Torah portion), we have plenty of excitement and thrills and chills. Let’s check it out. The parsha is named after the first word, vaetchanan, which means, “And I pleaded or beseeched,” because the parsha continues Moshe’s (Moses) history lesson to the nation by telling them how he beseeched haShem (god) to let him come into the land. HaShem denies the request and instead tells Moshe to climb a mountain and see the land. God also tells … Continue reading
This shabbat we will read the fifth book of the Torah. It is called D’varim (Deuteronomy) which can either mean, “Things,” or “Speakings.” Our parsha (weekly Torah portion), is also called D’varim and begins by stating that, “These are the things/speakings that Moshe (Moses) spoke to all of Yisrael at the crossing of the Yardayn (Jordan) …” So, what did he say? We don’t know yet, because the Torah goes on describing the location and telling us that we are … Continue reading
This week we read the second to last double parsha (weekly Torah portion) of the year. It is called Matot-Mas’ay. Matot, the name of the first parsha means staffs or tribes. Mas’ay means travels as that parsha begins with the words, “These are the travels…” Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though; let’s start with the first parsha, and not the second. The first parsha begins with Moshe (Moses) speaking to the heads of the tribes, to the children of … Continue reading