The parsha (Torah portion) that we read this shabbat is called Key Tisa which means, “When you lift/raise.” Now that we have finished the parsha that Moshe is not mentioned (click here for an explanation), the Torah immediately says that haShem (god) is talking to Moshe (Moses). HaShem is telling Moshe that when he raises up the heads of the children of Yisrael to count them, that person needs to give an atonement for his soul so that a plague … Continue reading
This week’s parsha (weekly Torah portion) is called Toldot which means generations, as in, “These are the generations of Yitzhak (Isaac),” which is how the parsha begins. It seems a little strange to call this parsha, “Generations,” considering it really only focuses on one generation: the two sons of Yitzhak, Asov (Esau) and Yaakov (Jacob). If any of you out there want to read one idea on this subject, I invite you to look back to what I wrote for … Continue reading
Friday night starts the holy day of Yom Kippur. When I was young, and until about 10 years ago, Yom Kippur was an uncomfortable day filled with droning prayers and empty stomachs… and no idea of what I was trying to accomplish or why. Today is a different story. As the sun sets Friday night and the powerful strains of Kol Nidre start, I understand part of what Yom Kippur is about and how to accomplish it. Simply put, Yom … Continue reading
We have entered the Jewish month of Elul which is the month before the Jewish new year… well one of the 4 Jewish new years. We Jews are a bit funny that way. We celebrate the new year on the 7th month of the year. And then there is the new year for the trees, and the new year that actually is at the beginning of the year, and lastly a new year for the vegetables and animals. Crazy really. … Continue reading