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Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudai – Half of [Communal] Life is Showing Up*
Posted on March 16, 2012(*attributed to Hunter Thompson). *This past week, as part of the ‘Ritual and Role’ conversation, a participant suggested that we could sometimes feature community members’ voices and reflections on the weekly parsha. If you’re interested in doing so, please email Rabbi Aaron: rabbi@prospectheighsshul.org This week’s parsha, Vayakhel-Pekudei, revisits the actual assembly of the mishkan, the [...]
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Parshat Ki Tisa
Posted on March 9, 2012In Ki Tisa, we digress from the Torah’s conversation about the mishkan and turn to one of the most famous and infamous episodes in the Torah: the sin of the golden calf. As a narrative, the parsha begs for interpretation. Yet, the verses are quite clear regarding the explanation of this egregious sin. Moshe is [...]
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Parshat Tetzaveh
Posted on March 1, 2012This week’s parsha, Tetzaveh, focuses on the priestly garments, worn by Aaron, his sons, and future kohanim. Introducing this theme, God instructs Moshe to bring Aaron and his sons to the fore: “Now you [Moshe], bring close to yourself Aaron, your brother, and his sons with him” (Shemot 28:1). The word ‘yourself’ (italicized above) appears [...]
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Parshat Terumah – Approach from Afar
Posted on February 23, 2012The building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, in Parshat Terumah ushers in a new phase of the Torah. Suddenly (or so it seems), the miracles of the Exodus give way to architectural blueprints. Anticipating this shift, Ramban (Nachmanides, 13th C., Spain) introduces the Mishkan by directly linking it with the giving of the Torah (in [...]
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Parshat Mishpatim – And These Too Are Holy
Posted on February 16, 2012Before commenting on this week’s parsha, Mishpatim, I’d like to begin by reflecting on the last few weeks in our community. Last Shabbas, I spoke about the preparations that the Jewish people undergo before receiving the Torah at Sinai. Borrowing a phrase from Rashi, I suggested that accepting the Torah means becoming a ‘partner in [...]
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Parshat Yitro – A Two Way Street
Posted on February 9, 2012Our parsha, the parsha where we read the Ten Commandments, is called Yitro, and it’s worth thinking a bit about this seemingly arbitrary detail. At the outset of the parsha, Rashi famously tells us (Shemot 18:1) that Yitro actually had seven names: Re’uel, Yeter, Chovav, Chever, Keini and Putiel. At different points in the Torah [...]
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Parshat Beshalach: Coming Full Circle
Posted on February 3, 2012Barely a few steps forward in their exodus, God tells Moshe to instruct the Jewish people to take one step back (Shmot 14:2): “Speak to the Children of Israel, and let them turn back and encamp before Pi-Ha’chirot…” Rashi, clarifies with his usual brevity: “And encamp before Pi-Ha’chirot” – this is [...]
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Parshat Bo – Children and Cattle, Youths and Chattel
Posted on January 25, 2012At the beginning of this week’s parsha, Bo, Moshe clarifies the scope of the liberation. Pharaoh finally relents, at least partially; his servants suggest releasing just the Israelite men (10:7) while Pharaoh himself asks which parts of the Israelite nation will be leaving (Shmot 10:7-8): “Send off the men, that they may worship the Lord [...]
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Parshat Va’yeira- The Barriers To Freedom
Posted on January 22, 2012In this week’s parsha, Va’yeira, we find Moshe struggling to initiate the liberation of the Jewish people. For eight verses, God encapsulates the arch of Jewish history, beginning with the patriarchs and culminating with the entry into the land of Israel. Finally, Moshe goes to relay the message, only to have it fall on deaf [...]
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Parshat Shmot – On Vision
Posted on January 13, 2012We know the Exodus story. We retell it every year at Pesach; we might have seen the ‘Prince of Egypt’, or other media portrayals as well. Indeed, and as we begin the book of Shmot this week, we read a story whose broad strokes are largely familiar: a new tyrant rises to power and [...]
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