by Student Rabbi Shelley Goldman The Talmud teaches, “One who wishes to acquire wisdom should study the way money works, for there is no greater area of Torah study than this. It is like an ever flowing stream…” I thought of this wisdom after reading this week’s Torah portion, Tazria[1], and reflecting on the themes […]
Author: AHWebMaint
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH PARSHA: SHEMINI (LEVITICUS 9:1-11-47)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant For several weeks and many chapters- – the longest prelude in the Torah- – we have read of the preparations for the moment at which God would bring His Presence to rest in the midst of the people. Five Torah portions (TERUMAH, TETZAVEH, KI TISA, VAYAKHEL and PEKUDEI) describe […]
D’var Torah by Student Rabbi Shelley Goldman
Our Torah portion begins with the following words: “God spoke to Moses, saying: Command Aaron and his sons thus: This is the ritual of the burnt offering…” (Leviticus 6:1-2a.) In Hebrew the final phrase is, “Zot Torat HaOlah.” Is there a word in this phrase that sounds familiar to you? “Torat?” What does the word […]
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 action […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35)
by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In Torah Parsha, TETZAVEH, we read the intricate details, described by God, to attire Aaron and his sons in an elaborate fashion, with specific emblems on both their arms, and breastplates representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The beginning of this week’s Parsha (KI TISA) continues with directions from God to […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10)
by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In Torah Parsha, TERUMAH, we read last week how the magnificent ‘MISHKAN’ (Sanctuary), a sacred place, dedicated to God, was constructed. Parshat TETZAVEH begins with instructions to Moses for creation of the final piece, to be placed in the ‘Tent of Meeting’, outside the dividing curtain. “You shall command the children […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah Parashat Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19)
by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (MISHPATIM), we were provided with a list of dozens of commandments and prohibitions, as spoken by God to Moses; and, subsequently to the Israelites. This week’s Parsha (TERUMAH) seems, at a first reading, to comprise another detailed list from God to Moses. This time God presents […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah Parashat Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18)
by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (YITRO), we read about the dramatic event which took place at the bottom of Mount Sinai. Amidst thick clouds of smoke, and the booming sound of the Shofar, the Israelites heard the Words of God, as he presented to them the ‘Ten Commandments’. In this week’s […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah Parashat Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23)
by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (BESHLACH), we read about how the Israelites celebrated with song, to express their deep gratitude to God, for delivering them from the enslavement and bondage, which they experienced in Egypt, under the rule of the Pharaoh. At the beginning of this week’s Torah Parsha (YITRO), the […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah Parashat Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17-16)
by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant After the devastation and slaughter of all of the first-born to families in Egypt (God’s tenth and final plague), the Pharaoh finally freed the Jews in Egypt (Parsha ‘BO’). In this week’s Torah Parsha (BESHLACH), ‘The Song of the Sea’, we read about how the Israelites escaped Egypt, and a juxtaposition […]