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 parsha comprises seventy-four of the Torah’s six hundred and thirteen commandments. The separate commandments pertaining […]
Author: AHWebMaint
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: SHOFTIM (DEUTERONOMY 16:18-21:9)
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 the population of each of the tribes. Last week’s Torah parsha, Re’eh, emphasized the importance […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: RE’EH (DEUTERONOMY 11:26-16:17)
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 you disobey the commandments of the Lord your God” (1). These are the first words […]
Jane’s Kitchen: Kosher Bouillabaisse Fish Stew
Ingredients: Soup 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced 1 large onion, halved and sliced 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped 1 fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, and sliced 2 bay leaves Peel of 1 small orange, scraped off with a […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: EKEV (DEUTERONOMY 7:12-11:25)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In this week’s Parsha (EKEV), Moses continues his closing address to the Children of Israel, which he began in Parsha (DEVARIM), and expanded upon in last week’s Parsha (V’ETCHANAN). Moses clearly understands the risks for this new generation. They may not remember the miracles which God had performed to […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VETCHANAN (DEUTERONOMY 3:23-7:11)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (DEVARIM), we heard the words of Moses as he explained to the Children of Israel the sins and transgressions committed by their forefathers, with the consequence that God banned them from entering the ‘Promised Land’. He also told them the reason he believed the […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: DEVARIM (DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:21)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah Parsha (DEVARIM) is the first in the last Book of the Torah, DEUTERONOMY. The entire book denotes a major shift from each of the four earlier Books. We read how Moses served as the liaison between God’s Word and the Israelites, their leader and teacher […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: MATOT-MASSEI (NUMBERS 30:2-36:13)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week, we read a double Parshiot (MATOT-MASSEI), which consolidate to comprise the finale of the Book of NUMBERS. The contents of these Parshiot are remarkable for the discontinuity of the narrative, the paradoxical elements of God’s commandments and seemingly incoherent directives and laws. The first of the Parshiot […]
Jane’s Kitchen: Tzatziki Pasta Salad
Servings: 8 1 (7-ounce) container low-fat plain greek yogurt 1/3 cup mayonnaise, or sour cream 1/4 cup feta cheese 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 12 ounces penne pasta, cooked to al […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: PINCHAS (NUMBERS 25:10-30:1)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Last week’s Torah Parsha (BALAK) was somewhat fanciful and surreal; ending in tragedy, when thousands of Israelites lost their lives as a consequence of being lured into illicit relations with the Moabite women. Parsha (PINCHAS) transitions to more serious themes which include not just a diverse set of narratives; […]