This week’s parsha (portion of the Torah we read this week) is called Vayera. It has a lot in it including the destruction of Sdome and Gemorah, and the roots of where King David. However, none of those things are what I feel like talking about today. Today, I want to talk about one of the lesser known things that I found interesting in our parsha: The story regarding Abraham, Sarah, and Avimelech (which translates to, “My father the king,” … Continue reading
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
I heard this from a friend of mine, Drew Tik (I mention him because it is always good to name your sources). This week we read about Noah and the flood, followed by the tower of Babel, followed by being introduced to Abram. Why was the tower story put in between the two? Noah, in Hebrew means to rest; so, Noah was a laid back kind of guy. Ok, he did what god told him to do, but outside of … Continue reading
Is it time to write about our weekly parsha (Torah portion) already? It seems like I just wrote one. Ah, yes. This is what happens when we finish our cycle of the Torah and begin again. There really is no time, which means no rest for my Torah thoughts. Such is life. So, here we are, back to the beginning. The parsha is called Breisheit and has many, many meanings. It is normally translated as, “In the beginning.” However it … Continue reading
The Torah really does not have a beginning and an ending. Today (Sunday) is the end of Succot, and on its heals is Simchat Torah which means, “Happiness of Torah.” On Simchat Torah we finish reading the Torah, and start again to read the Torah. We also dance with the Torah and celebrate simultaneous endings and beginnings. If there was only one thing to learn from the Torah, then this cycle would be a circle. However, when you read the … Continue reading
We are about to enter into the holy days of Succot (tabernacles) and I thought I would share a few words on the topic. When I was in Israel, I heard a lot of talk regarding these holy days as to the meaning of the 4 species of trees that we wave, and with the meaning of the succah itself. At the beginning of one Succot in Israel, a different type of question came to me. Why does Succot happen … Continue reading
Hello everybody, This Shabbat we read the torah portion (parsha) which is the song that haShem (god) told Moshe (Moses) to teach to the people. As with most songs, this one is very poetic. The parsha is entitled, “My ears,” which is the first significant word in the parsha, and it starts with a request to listen to the words about to come. God is perfect and just, problems come from the children. (Stay with me folks; I know to … Continue reading
Hello everybody, This was originally written on October 11, 2005. However, it is still relevant today and I hope gives you a fresh and more joyful perspective on what Yom Kippor is really about. Well here it is, the evening before Yom Kippor. I wasn’t planning on writing anything for the day, but during yeshiva (a school for the study of Torah) today, as we talked about the day, I realized that I did have some thoughts I wanted to … Continue reading
Hello and welcome to the days of returning. We are now in the 10 days between Rosh haShanah (head of change in Hebrew) and Yom Kippor (Hebrew for day of atonement. It is also called Yom haKipporim which means: the day like Purim). These 10 days are called days of repentance, however the Hebrew word for repentance, tshuvah, really means an answer or a return. You see, on Rosh haShanah we invoked the beginning of change. Now we are in … Continue reading
Hello everyone, As today is erev Rosh haShanah (the day before the Jewish new year), I thought I would share a few thoughts. A study partner of mine a couple of years ago observed that most people call Rosh haShanah, “Judgment day,” and when you think of a judgement day, you think of somber clothes and going to court and fear of what the verdict will be. However, we look at Rosh haShanah as a day of joy and celebration … Continue reading