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 ancestors, with the consequence that God banned them from entering the ‘Promised Land.’ He also explained why he also would not […]
Author: AHWebMaint
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 was the liaison between God’s Word and the Israelites, served as their leader and […]
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 comprises 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 incoherent directives and laws. The first of the parshiot, Matot, begins […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: PINCHAS (NUMBERS 25:10-30:1)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Last week’s Torah parsha, Balak, was fanciful, surreal and ended 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, […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: BALAK (NUMBERS 22:2-25:9)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Parsha Balak begins with the Israelites continuing their journey to Canaan. They have already defeated their enemies in many nations and have settled their next encampment on the border of Moab. Based on the victories the Israelites had achieved in other nations, Balak, the King of Moab was […]
Bissel of Fun Logic Puzzles July 2025
Send in your answers to get points. The top three puzzlers at the end of year will get gift cards PLUS ultimate bragging rights. Easy: 10 POINTS Medium: 20 POINTS Hard: 30 POINTS ________________________________________________ July 2025: Easy Level B’nai Israel had a fundraiser, where each member donated $10 to attend a dinner party; and four of the members volunteered […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: CHUKAT (NUMBERS 19:1-22:1)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In an almost imperceptible yet seismic shift, this week’s Torah parsha, Chukat, jumps several decades ahead in the journey of the Israelites and its narrative reads like a riddle inside of a riddle. The parsha begins: “This is the statute of the Torah which the Lord commanded…”(1) and […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: KORACH (NUMBERS 16:1-18:32)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah parsha, Shelach, twelve ‘spies’, after scouting the land of Canaan for forty days, returned with a blatantly exaggerated falsehood pertaining to the strength and size of the inhabitants. With the exception of Joshua and Caleb, the other ten men rejected the assumption that the […]
A Congregational Statement Affirming Trans Dignity
Across the country, we are witnessing a surge of harmful actions and rhetoric targeting trans, nonbinary and intersex people – with a particular dangerous focus on trans youth – one of our most vulnerable populations. We especially reach out to our transgender community members and to those of you who hold trans loved ones dear: […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: SHELACH (NUMBERS 13:1-15:41)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah parsha, Behaalotecha, we read about the Israelites turbulent saga of disillusionment with their way of life in the desert. This week’s parsha, Shelach, takes a new and momentarily promising turn with a look towards the future. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Send out […]