By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The opening chapters of Exodus plunge us into a midst of epic events. Moses passes from Prince of Egypt, to Midianite shepherd, to leader of the Israelites. The narrative begins with a new Pharaoh of Egypt, “who did not know of Joseph” (1). However, the descendants of Jacob […]
Posts with the Exodus tag
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: PEKUDEI (EXODUS 38:21-40-38)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Pekudei is the last chapter in the Book of Exodus. For the fourth time, as in parshiot Tetzaveh, Terumah and Vayakhel, we again read a tedious repetition of the inventory of all the equipment used in the building and decorating of the Sanctuary: “These are the records of […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYAKHEL (EXODUS 35:1 – 38:20)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week, we read parsha Vayakhel, which is replete with contradictions and multiple interpretations. The first enigma is the question of why it exists at all. In both parshiot Terumah and Tetzaveh, we read descriptions of every one of the Sanctuary’s dozens of components, as dictated by God […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: KI TISA (EXODUS 30:11-34:35)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Ki Tisa, begins on Mount Sinai, where God is relating to Moses some rather benign instructions pertaining to the final particulars to complete the Holy Sanctuary. It is expected that Moses will remain at the top of the mountain for another forty days. Here, […]
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 Mishkan (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, […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: TERUMAH (EXODUS 25:1-27:19)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah parsha, Mishpatim, Moses provided clarification of the Ten Commandments given to the Israelites by God at Mount Sinai. Additionally, the Children of Israel learned the nature of numerous other laws, commandments, prohibitions and the consequences for disobedience. This week’s Torah parsha, Terumah, begins with […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: MISHPATIM (EXODUS 21:1-24:18)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah parsha, Yitro, the Ten Commandments rang out from Mount Sinai in a symphony of sound and vision, thunder and lightning – and the world was forever changed. Although this week’s parsha, Mishpatim, lacks the ’Pyrotechnic Accompaniment’, its message is, in effect, a qualification and […]
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 […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: BESHALACH (EXODUS 13:17-17:16)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The splitting of the ‘Sea of Reeds’ is one of the seminal events in Jewish history. This week’s Torah parsha, Beshalach, begins with a description of how the Israelites finally left Egypt and the yoke of the Pharaoh. What had been considered impossible had occurred! The mightiest army […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: BO (EXODUS 10:1-13:16)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Bo, continues with the story of Exodus. God had already inflicted seven devastating plagues on Egypt, subsequent to the Pharaoh’s perpetual denial to free the enslaved Israelites. In parsha Bo, it becomes apparent that from the very first time that God approached Moses (behind […]