By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week, we read a double Parshiot (TAZRIA), followed by Parsha (METZORA). Each of these Parshiot describe in punctilious detail, the bewildering phenomenon of ‘TZARAAT’. In effect, this is a physical manifestation of a spiritual malaise, frequently mistranslated as ‘leprosy’. An individual afflicted with ‘TZARAAT’, would be referred to […]
Author: AHWebMaint
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH PARSHA: TZAV (LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The primary theme of last week’s Torah Parsha (VAKIRA) pertained to the five diverse sacrifices, which the Israelites presented at the Sanctuary. On the surface, this week’s Torah Parsha (TZAV) appears to be merely an extension of Parsha (VAKIRA), differentiated solely by the focus shifting to the kohanim, who […]
Congregation Am Haskalah Board Meeting February 11,2018
A G E N D A Attending: Anita Goldman, Joy Scott, Izzy Studzienko, Rachel Zane, Jane Levine, David Smith, Liz Fear Naches and Chesed: Naches to Adrian Shankar for the wonderful event Monday Feb.5 at Bradbury Sullivan Center. Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president of the RRC, met with 14 congregants for a dinner […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH PARSHA: VAYIKRA (LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah Parsha (VAYIKRA) is the first Parsha in the book of LEVITICUS, a section of the Torah, which most rabbinical students ‘love to hate’. We just completed reading the thrilling and dramatic story of the book of EXODUS, which captivated our imagination like an award winning […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH PARSHA: VAYAKHEL (EXODUS 35:1 – 38:20)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week, we read two Parshiot (VAYKHEL), followed by Parsha (PEKUDEI). Each of these Parshiot are replete with contradictions and multiple interpretations. The first enigma is the question of why they exist at all. In the Torah Parsha, (TERUMAH) and in Torah Parsha (TETZAVEH), we read descriptions of every […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH PARSHA: PEKUDEI (EXODUS 38:21-40-38)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant (PEKUDEI), the second Parsha for this week, is the last chapter in the Book of Exodus. For the fourth time, Parsha (TETZAVEH, TERUMAH, VAYAKHEL), we again read a tedious repetition of the inventory of all the equipment used in the building and decorating of the Sanctuary: “These are the […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: KI TISA (EXODUS 30:11-34:35)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah This week’s Torah Parsha (KI TISA) begins on Mount Sinai, where God is relating to Moses some rather benign instructions, pertaining to final particulars, for completion of the Holy Sanctuary. It is expected that Moses will remain at the top of the mountain for another forty days. Here, he will […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: TETZAVEH (EXODUS 27:20-30:10)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The primary theme of last week’s Torah Parsha (TERUMAH) was the building of the Mishken (Sanctuary). Each Israelite donated the gold; silver; copper; fabric; and, all of the other materials required to create a dwelling of splendor, where God would live ‘within its midst’. This week’s Torah Parsha (TETZAVEH), […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: TERUMAH (EXODUS 25:1-27:19)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (MISHPATIM), Moses provided clarification of the Ten Commandments, given to the Israelites, by God, at Mount Sinai. Additionally, the Children of Israel learned the nature of numerous other laws, commandments, prohibitions; and, the consequences for disobedience. This week’s Torah Parsha (TERUMAH), begins with God’s […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: MISHPATIM (EXODUS 21:1-24:18)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (YITRO), the Ten Commandments rang out from Mount Sinai in a symphony of sound and vision, thunder and lightning – -and the world was forever changed. Although this week’s Parsha (MISHPATIM) lacks the’ Pyrotechnic Accompaniment’, its message is, in effect, a qualification and extension […]