A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH : TAZRIA-METZORA (LEVITICUS 12:1-15:33)

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 […]

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 […]