In contrast to other religious paths, Judaism offers spiritual growth within a clear and coherent framework. The word halakhah – our “path” – is understood more commonly as our “law” because of the many mitzvot (“obligations”) which serve us as signposts along the way. Our parashat hashavua for this week contains fifty-three such mitzvot, and eachContinue reading “Shabbat Mishpatim: Kavanah is in the Details”
Tag Archives: shabbat
Shabbat VaYeshev: Choices and Exile
In this week’s parashah we follow Joseph down to Egypt. This is a time of terror for him: his brothers sell him as a slave and he is taken far away from home. He is bought by a minister to Pharaoh and seems to be doing well; he gains his master’s trust and is putContinue reading “Shabbat VaYeshev: Choices and Exile”
Shabbat Yitro: What does the Voice of G-d Sound Like?
This week parashat Yitro calls us to stand once again at the foot of a mountain as a people, brought together not by lines of descent but by a willingness to go forward, to cross over, to live with uncertainty in the hope of reaching a vision. One of the most compelling uncertainties of Jewish religious tradition centers onContinue reading “Shabbat Yitro: What does the Voice of G-d Sound Like?”
Shabbat Toldot: Digging Down to Rise Up
This week’s parashat hashavua describes the difficulty Isaac encounters in establishing himself in the aftermath of his father’s death. Apparently the locals do not respect him as they did his father. Isaac dug again the wells of water that were dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up afterContinue reading “Shabbat Toldot: Digging Down to Rise Up”
Shabbat Bereshit 5774: Take a Bite
This is very simply a photograph of an apple I bought at an Israeli grocery store. The sticker on it it what makes it priceless: Bereshit (“Genesis”) / taam Gan Eden (“the taste of the Garden of Eden”) The term Bereshit is the name of an Israeli fruit produce company. The word eden is related to the HebrewContinue reading “Shabbat Bereshit 5774: Take a Bite”
Shabbat Nakhamu: finding consolation together
On Tuesday of this week, the world fell apart for Jews 1,941 years ago. In 72 CE the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed by the mighty Roman Empire on 9 Av, which this year corresponds to Tuesday July 16. The tragedy was as great in its time as the Shoah (called in English the Holocaust) isContinue reading “Shabbat Nakhamu: finding consolation together”
parashat Behar-Behukotai: what does shemitta have to do with Mt. Sinai?
Once again we have a double parasha this week. According to our minhag, we’ll read a bit from the first third of both parshas, depending on what catches our eye and looks intriguing. It must be admitted, though, that the first several verses of parashat Behar already contain a world. “The Eternal spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai saying, speak toContinue reading “parashat Behar-Behukotai: what does shemitta have to do with Mt. Sinai?”
Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone 