By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week, we read a double parshiot: Tazria, followed by 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 […]
Posts with the Bissel of Torah tag
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: 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 amid the people. Five Torah parshiot (Teruma, Tetzaveh, Ki Tisa, Vayakhel, and Pekudi) all describe the […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: TZAV (LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The primary theme of last week’s Torah parsha, Vayikra, pertained to the five diverse sacrifices which the Israelites presented at the Sanctuary. On the surface, this week’s parsha, Tzav, appears to be merely an extension of Vayikra, differentiated solely by the focus shifting to the kohanim, who were […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYIKRA (LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Vayikra, is the first in the Book of Leviticus, known formally as ‘Torat Kohanim’ (Instructions for the Priests) (1). The title, Vayikra, defines the entire Book of Leviticus: “and He called”. We have just completed reading the thrilling and dramatic story of the Book […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI (EXODUS 35:1 – 38:20)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week, we read two parshiot: Vayakhel followed by 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 parshiot Terumah and Tetzaveh, we read descriptions of every one of the […]