Author Archive
On the Threshold of Eternity A Dvar Torah for Hukkat by Rabbi Len Levin “He who touches the corpse of any human being shall be unclean for seven days…” (Num. 19:11) For an entire lifetime, one builds up a network … Continue reading »
by Rabbi Isaac Mann Much ink has been spilled on trying to explain what motivated Korach and his followers to rebel against Moses and Aaron, which is the main story in this week’s Torah portion. Was it jealousy, envy, desire … Continue reading »
by Cantor Sandy Horowitz What’s in a Name? Parashat Shelah tells the story of twelve spies sent by Moses to scout out the land of Canaan that has been promised by God to the Israelite people. Upon their return, ten … Continue reading »
by Rabbi Michael Pitkowsky This week’s parashah begins with a description of the installation and function of the menorah in the Tabernacle. “Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give … Continue reading »
by Rabbi Michael Pitkowsky This week’s parashah contains one of the most detailed descriptions of a Biblical ritual in the entire Torah. Numbers 5:11-31 contains a description of the Sotah ritual. When a husband suspected his wife of being unfaithful … Continue reading »
Parashat Bemidbar: Tribalism or Multitribalism? Rabbi Jill Hammer The first parashah in the Book of Numbers (or in Hebrew Bemidbar) makes a significant point of listing the census numbers of each tribe (adult males able to go to war) as … Continue reading »
A Society of Free Landholders by Rabbi Len Levin “You shall proclaim release [liberty] throughout the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: each of you shall return to his holding and each of you … Continue reading »
by Rabbi Michael Pitkowsky This week’s parashah is a priestly delight. It’s filled with numerous teachings that were relevant to the lives of priests, kohanim, in the past, and for some kohanim, still today. Many people, not only kohanim, are … Continue reading »
by Cantor Sandy Horowitz Parashat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim: A Look Back Max: Aaron has asked us to divide into groups and share our reflections about what we heard from Moses today. So many laws! I lost track after fifty. Hannah: “You, … Continue reading »
The double parshiyot of this week’s Torah reading, Tazria-Metzora, are for many commentators a challenge. Many parshiyot in the Book of Leviticus are challenging, but much of this week’s Torah reading reads like a zombie apocalypse in which people are … Continue reading »
