The Lehigh Valley's Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Lech Lecha, begins with God’s words to Abram: “Go forth from your birthplace to the land which I will show you; and I will make you into a great … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha begins: “These are the generations of Noah; Noah was a righteous man for this generation; Noah walked with God” (1). Numerous commentaries have emerged, pertaining to the implication that … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant “In the beginning of God’s creation of the heavens and earth, God said: “Let there be light; and, there was light” (1). The first Torah parsha of the Book of Genesis, Bereishit, is probably … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Every year, either in close proximity or during the ‘Ten Days of Repentance’, we read the penultimate Torah parsha, Haazinu. It is no coincidence that when we are experiencing a heightened sense of … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Vayelech, is both heartrending as well as inspirational. It begins with Moses speaking the following words to the Children of Israel: “Today, I am one hundred and twenty years … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant After hearing the list of the 98 terrifying curses at the end of last week’s Torah parsha, Ki Tavo, the people were devastated and questioned whether they could possibly withstand such frightful punishments. … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah congregant This week’s parsha, Ki Tavo, begins with instructions from Moses to the Children of Israel. They are directed that on the very day that they cross the Jordan to create two huge stones on … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Ki Teitzei, occurs as the Children of Israel are at the brink of embarking on war with hostile nations as they tirelessly struggle to reach the ‘Promised Land’. The … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In previous parshiot in the book of Deuteronomy, we learned how God began preparing for the establishment of a new nation in the ‘Promised Land’. Equal portions of the land were allotted according to … Continued
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant “See, I am setting before you today the blessing and the curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am giving to you today; the curse if … Continued