By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The second Parsha for this week (BECHUKOTAI) begins with stunning clarity of the terms of Jewish life under the covenant. In the first part, there is an idyllic picture of the blessing of Divine favor. If the Israelites follow God’s decrees and keep His commandments, there will be rain; […]
Author: AHWebMaint
Congregation Am Haskalah Board Meeting April 15,2018
A G E N D A Attending: Anita Goldman, Joy Scott, Izzy Studzienko, Rachel Zane, Jane Levine, Liz Fear Naches and Chesed: Congregational status discussed Reflection on previous month events Spiritual Writing held with 3 participants. Rabbi suggested we put the first date on the calendar for next year so all interested parties […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: EMOR (LEVITICUS 21:1-24:3)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah, Congregant This week’s Torah Parsha (EMOR) begins with God saying to Moses: “Speak to the Kohanim; and, say that none of them can become defiled; impure; or, ceremonially unclean; by touching a dead person, unless the one who died is a wife, or a blood relative”(1). The requisite for purity […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH PARSHA: KEDOSHIM (LEVITICUS 19:1-20:27)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The second Parsha for this week (KEDOSHIM) begins with the momentous call: “You shall be holy because I, the Lord, your God am holy” (1). This statement is followed by repetition of dozens of ‘Divine’ commandments, which would enable the Israelites to consecrate their holy relationship with God. This […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH PARSHA: ACHAREI MOT (LEVITICUS 16:1-18:30)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week, we read two Parshiot, (ACHAREI MOT), followed by Parsha( KEDOSHIM). The primary focus of the first Parsha pertains to the ancient rituals of Yom Kippur, the ‘Day of Atonement’. During the period of MISHNAH (i.e. the first major redaction of the Oral Torah) in the second century, […]