“Carry out my laws and safeguard my decrees to follow them; I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 18:4) Yehuda Kurzer (President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America) … Continued
First Day of Pesach (Passover) (Exodus 12:21-51)
“At the end of the four hundred and thirtieth year, to the very day, all the ranks of the Lord departed from the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:41) Because the … Continued
A Mighty Nation
Some 14 million Jews worldwide comprise the Jewish nation and will celebrate our nation’s birth tomorrow night, when we sit at the seder table to celebrate the first night of … Continued
Parashat Metzora (Leviticus 14:1-15:33)
“And the priest shall offer then, one for sin offering and the other for a burn offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord…” (Leviticus 15:15) … Continued
Parashat Tazria
“On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (Leviticus 12:3) Parashat Tazria describes the practices a woman who has given birth must follow. She may not … Continued
Parashat Sh’mini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47)
“Fire came forth from before God and consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. And all the people saw, and shouted, and fell upon their faces.” … Continued
Parashat Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36)
“This is the law of the guilt offering; it is most holy.” (Leviticus 7:1) Parashat Tzav describes how to offer the sacrifices listed in last week’s parasha (portion) and concludes … Continued
Parashat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26)
“The priest shall provide him atonement before Adonai, and it shall be forgiven him for any of the things he might do to incur guilt.” (Leviticus 5:26) Parashat Vayikra opens … Continued
Parashat Vayakhel-P’kudei (Exodus 35:1-40:38)
“The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of Adonai filled the Tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34) Parashat P’kudei completes the description of the construction and assembly of the mishkan, … Continued
A View from Jerusalem – March 2016
Today is the first of the Hebrew month of Adar, the month associated more than any other with joy and happiness. And in two weeks, our joy increases when we celebrate Purim, which presents our Jewish story in a nutshell: In the year 482 B.C.E., the Jews of the Persian Empire faced death, decreed by King Achashverosh, for not assimilating. “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the other people in all the provinces of your realm, whose laws are different from those of any other people and who do not obey the king’s laws and it is not in your majesty’s interest to tolerate them.” (Megillat Esther 3:9). The plot, instigated by Haman, the king’s evil vizier, urged the people to initiate a bloodbath and to loot and kill the Jews on the 15th day of the month of Adar.