This coming shabbat is called Shabbat Gadol (big or great shabbat), and I am hearing a lot about why this shabbat is called Shabbat Gadol. I am also hearing a lot about Pesach (Passover) which is less than 2 weeks away. I am hearing so much that I feel our poor little parsha (weekly Torah portion) is being left out in the cold. After all, it is kind of boring compared to Pesach. Pesach has lots of nooks and … Continue reading
This week, we start the 3rd book of the Torah: Vayikra (Leviticus). This week’s parsha (Torah portion) gets into the blood and guts of sacrifices. It is not one of the prettier parshas, but it is an important one nevertheless because it tells us how we can redeem ourselves when we sin, not just as a person, but also as a community or a community leader, including the high priest and the king. One of the things I like about … Continue reading
Hi y’all, Today is the first day of the first month of the year. Yeah, I know Rosh haShanah (the Jewish new year – literally: head of the year) is the new year, but I am just telling you what it said in one of the two parshas (weekly Torah portions) that we read this week. For those who don’t know, the Jewish calender is lunar based and needs to add an extra month every other year or so to … Continue reading
Purim. It means, “Lotteries,” in Hebrew. Ok, it really means lots, as in drawing lots, which is what a lottery is. And it is a Jewish holiday where we give out gifts of food to friends, and charity to anyone who asks. A day where we put on costumes and get so drunk we can’t tell the difference between: “Blessed is Mordechai (the good guy),” and cursed is Haman (the bad guy). Oh, and we read/listen to the story of … Continue reading
Hello everyone, Once again it is time for our visit with the week’s parsha (Torah portion). This week’s parsha is called T’tzveh which can mean you will command and/or you will join. The parsha starts with haShem (god) talking to Moshe (moses) and saying, “atah t’tzveh” or, “You will command/connect the children of Yisrael and they will take to you pure pressed olive oil for lighting the eternal candle.” Someone, once pointed out to me that this is a unique … Continue reading
What strikes me as I read this week’s parsha (weekly Torah portion) was how I have been seen the first two books of the Torah: Genesis (Breshiet in Hebrew) and Exodus (Shmot in Hebrew). In Breshiet I found myself seeing some little aspect within a parsha, while in Shmot I am finding much larger themes; themes that exist over many parshas. I don’t know why that is. At the moment, I just find it an interesting observation. If anybody out … Continue reading
Hi everybody, Hope you all are in good spirits this week. In this week’s parsha (Torah portion), we finally make it to Mount Sinai and have the most amazing high: we all get to hear the Creator of the Universe speak to us. And this is what she said: I am haShem (the 4 letter name of god meaning: what was, is, and will be – the master of everything) your god, who has taken you out of the land … Continue reading