By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The Parsha, which we read this week, is ACHAREI MOT. The primary focus of the Parsha pertains to the ancient rituals of the very first ‘Day of Atonement’. During the period of MISHNAH (i.e. the first major redaction of the Oral Torah) in the second century, the Jewish calendar […]
Posts in the A ‘Bissel’ of Torah category:
A weekly dvar Torah from our wonderful Joy Scott.
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: PASSOVER
PASSOVER By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant When Passover coincides with Shabbat, we intercept our reading of Leviticus, and return to the portion of EXODUS, to repeat the miraculous story of how our ancestors escaped slavery in Egypt, and became a free nation. We reiterate the tenth and final plague, which God imposed on the […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: METZORA (LEVITICUS 14:1-15:33)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Last week, we read Parsha (TAZIRA), which introduced us to the bizarre malady of ‘TZARAAT’. In effect, this was considered a physical evidence of a spiritual failing, disclosed in a myriad of dermatological disorders. The mystery shrouding parsha (TAZIRA) was the absence of any specific transgression, or identification of […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: TAZIRA (LEVITICUS 12:1-13:59)
This week’s Torah Parsha (TAZIRA) is extraordinary, not for its content; but, for its absence of content. TAZIRA has been labeled “the Torah Parsha least likely to be studied” (1). It has also been accused of having “challenged and confused generations of Torah scholars, as well as legions of rabbinical students” (2) To understand the […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: SHEMINI (LEVITICUS 9:1-11:47)
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 Parshiot (TERUMAH, TETZAVEH, KI TISA, VAYAKHEL, and PEKUDI) all describe the instructions for building […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: TZAV (LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36)
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 were the recipients of the various […]
A Bissel of Torah: VAKIRA (LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26)
VAKIRA (LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26) By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah Parsha (VAKIRA) is the first Parsha in the Book of Leviticus, known formally as ‘Torat Kohanim’ (instructions for the Priests) (1). The title for this Parsha defines the entire Book of Leviticus. We have just completed reading the thrilling and dramatic story of 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 receive the two tablets of […]
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), begins with God speaking to Moses: […]
A Bissel of Torah: YITRO (EXODUS 18:1-20:23) By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant
This week’s Torah Parsha (YITRO) consists of two episodes, which appear to be a study in contrast. In the first (Chapter 18, YITRO), Moses’ father-in-law, a high level Midianite provides Moses lessons in management and governance. In the second, the prime mover is God, Himself, who, in an unprecedented and unrepeated epiphany, appears before an […]