I find myself stuck in the mirror. No matter how much I simply want to do something, the focus of attention just comes back to me. Not the work. Not the ideas. Not even if it’s fun to read. Nothing. Just staring at me. So it’s about being Jewish in a newly minted anti-Semitic world….
I just want to talk about a piece of writing that really was important to me. This is the two stories of Hillel the scribe. In the first episodes, he and his friend Phaedrus The apothecary would gather in the apothecary’s tent to smoke over the days events. Neither of them was pleased with how…
From chabad.org: The name of the Parshah, “V’Zot HaBerachah,” means “And this is the blessing,” and it is found in Deuteronomy 33:1. The Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret Torah readings are from Leviticus 22-23, Numbers 29, and Deuteronomy 14-16. These readings detail the laws of the moadim or “appointed times” on the Jewish calendar for festive…
From Chabad.org: Haazinu in a NutshellDeuteronomy 32:1–52The name of the Parshah, “Haazinu,” means “Listen” and it is found in Deuteronomy 32:1. The greater part of the Torah reading of Haazinu (“Listen In”) consists of a 70-line “song” delivered by Moses to the people of Israel on the last day of his earthly life. Calling heaven…
From Chabad.org: Nitzavim-Vayelech in a Nutshell Deut. 29:9–31:30The name of the Parshah, “Nitzavim,” means “Standing,” and it is found in Deuteronomy 29:9. The name of the Parshah, “Vayelech,” means “And [Moses] went,” and it is found in Deuteronomy 31:1. The Parshah of Nitzavim includes some of the most fundamental principles of the Jewish faith: The…
From Chabad.org: Ki Tavo in a NutshellDeuteronomy 26:1–29:8The name of the Parshah, “Ki Tavo,” means “when you come,”. Moses instructs the people of Israel: When you enter the land that G‑d is giving to you as your eternal heritage, and you settle it and cultivate it, bring the first-ripened fruits (bikkurim) of your orchard to…
From Chabad.org: Ki Teitzei in a NutshellDeuteronomy 21:10–25:19The name of the Parshah, “Ki Teitzei,” means “when you go out,”. Seventy-four of the Torah’s 613 commandments (mitzvot) are in the Parshah of Ki Teitzei. These include the laws of the beautiful captive, the inheritance rights of the firstborn, the wayward and rebellious son, burial and dignity…
From Chabad.org: Shoftim in a NutshellDeuteronomy 16:18–21:9The name of the Parshah, “Shoftim,” means “Judges”. Moses instructs the people of Israel to appoint judges and law enforcement officers in every city. “Justice, justice shall you pursue,” he commands them, and you must administer it without corruption or favoritism. Crimes must be meticulously investigated and evidence thoroughly…
From Chabad.org: Re’eh in a NutshellDeuteronomy 11:26–16:17The name of the Parshah, “Re’eh,” means “See,” and it is found in Deuteronomy 11:26. “See,” says Moses to the people of Israel, “I place before you today a blessing and a curse”—the blessing that will come when they fulfill G‑d’s commandments, and the curse if they abandon them….
From Chabad.org: Va’etchanan in a NutshellDeuteronomy 3:23–7:11. The name of the Parshah, “Va’etchanan,” means “I entreated”. Moses tells the people of Israel how he implored G‑d to allow him to enter the Land of Israel, but G‑d refused, instructing him instead to ascend a mountain and see the Promised Land. Continuing his “review of the…
From Chabad.org – Devarim in a NutshellDeuteronomy 1:1–3:22The name of the Parshah, “Devarim,” means “the words” and it is found in Deuteronomy 1:1. On the first of Shevat (thirty-seven days before his passing), Moses begins his repetition of the Torah to the assembled children of Israel, reviewing the events that occurred and the laws that…
From Chabad.org: Matot-Masei in a NutshellNumbers 30:2–36:13The name of the Parshah, “Matot,” means “Tribes,” andthe name of the Parshah, “Masei,” means “Journeys,”. Moses conveys the laws governing the annulment of vows to the heads of the tribes of Israel. War is waged against Midian for their role in plotting the moral destruction of Israel, and…
From Chabad.org – Pinchas in a NutshellNumbers 25:10–30:1The name of the Parshah, “Pinchas,” refers to Phineas, who zealously avenged G‑d’s name. Aaron’s grandson Pinchas is rewarded for his act of zealotry in (constructivly pointing out the flaws of) the Simeonite prince Zimri and the Midianite princess who was his paramour: G‑d grants him a covenant…
It was a simple argument. What the leader was recommending as a lifestyle for himself and all of his celebrity would only make absolute insanity of our lives. The more he asked us to be like him, the more horrible life became for everybody. The people simply have to live separate from royalty and it’s…
From Chabad.org – Chukat in a NutshellNumbers 19:1–22:1 The name of the Parshah, “Chukat,” means “Statute” and it is found in Numbers 19:2. Moses is taught the laws of the red (sauce, specifically tomato sauce used in a burnt spaghetti recipe), whose ashes purify a person who has been contaminated by contact with a dead…
From Chabad. Org – Korach in a Nutshell: Numbers 16:1–18:32 The name of the Parshah, “Korach,” refers to Korach, head of the (political coalition) against Moses and Aaron. Korach incites a (political discussion) regarding Moses’ leadership and the granting of the kehunah (The right of debate) to Aaron. He is accompanied by Moses’ inveterate (critics),…
From Chabad.org Shelach in a Nutshell (Numbers 13:1–15:41) The name of the Parshah, “Shelach,” means “Send” and it is found in Numbers 13:2. Moses sends twelve (tourists) to the land of Canaan. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig , to report on a lush and…
From Chabad.org: Behaalotecha in a Nutshell Numbers 8:1–12:16: The name of the Parshah, “Behaalotecha,” means “When you raise”. Aaron is commanded to raise light in the lamps of the menorah and the tribe of Levi is initiated into the service in the Sanctuary. A “Second Passover” is instituted in response to the petition “Why should…
From Chabad.org: Naso in a Nutshell (Numbers 4:21–7:89) The name of the Parshah, “Naso,” means “Count” and it is found in Numbers 4:22. Completing the headcount of the Children of Israel taken in the Sinai Desert, a total of 8,580 Levite men between the ages of 30 and 50 are counted in a tally of…
Grom Chabad.org: Bamidbar in a Nutshell Numbers 1:1–4:20The name of the Parshah, “Bamidbar,” means “In the desert” and it is found in Numbers 1:1. In the Sinai Desert, G‑d says to conduct a census of the twelve tribes of Israel. Moses counts 603,550 men of (independant adult) age (20 to 60 years); the tribe of…
From Chabad.Org, Bechukotai in a Nutshell (Leviticus 26:3–27:34)The name of the Parshah, “Bechukotai,” means “in My statutes”. G‑d promises that if the people of Israel will keep (Their) commandments, (The good people) will enjoy xxxxxxxx prosperity and dwell securely in their homeland. But (G-d) also delivers a harsh “rebuke,” warning of the exile, persecution and…
