Maggid’s Musing Balak Numbers 22:2 – 25:9 2018 Shabbat Shalom, Chaverim— It is amazing to me that though we read the same, exact, words every year from the same, exact section of the Torah in the same, exact sequence, they never have the same, exact meaning. This week’s episode...
This week’s Torah portion, Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32) details the first of a series of organizational tests for Moses. It begins when Korach, a well-heeled Israelite whose pedigree places him in the priestly class, contests Moses and Aaron’s leadership. He gathers 250 other highly regarded men and, with their backing,...
Shabbat Shalom Chaverim— This week we have a double portion: Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33). And what a doozy it is!! It has to do with the impact of skin diseases, contaminated clothing, leprous houses (no joke), seminal emissions, and menstrual discharge. Lucky kid who gets this as their...
Shabbat Shalom, Chaverim— The feature story on the front page of this week’s Sunday New York Times was a wrenchingly beautiful and agonizing piece by Benjamin Weiser called “Nakesha’s Demons.” Mr. Weiser chronicles the descent of Nakesha, a young, bright, promising, talented, and wicked-smart woman into the abyss of...
Shabbat Shalom, Chaverim— This week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20 – 30:10), comes just in time for the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. As the bespangled, multi-colored, wildly tailored uniforms announce to the world the national identity and prowess of each team, Jewish communities around the world are reading...
Shabbat Shalom, Chaverim— This week’s Torah portion, Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19) contains one of Judaism’s most consistent and widespread practices. It is something that every branch and leaf of organizational Judaism shares, evolves, and tries to master. It crosses all denominations, philosophies, eras, and locations. It is universally engaged and...
Shabbat Shalom, Chaverim— This weeks Torah portion, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18) begins with a continuation of the commandments that were initiated with the famous ten last week. To review, Mount Sinai is smoking and rumbling, shofar blasts fill the air, the entire people have a direct experience of the Divine,...
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