by RabbiOlivier | May 19, 2017 | Torah Reflections
B’har – B’chukotai Leviticus 25:1 – 27:34 The Evolving God of Our Understanding The last Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus, B’chukotai, begins with: “If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments…” [Lev. 26:3] and continues...
by RabbiOlivier | May 15, 2017 | Torah Reflections
Emor Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 Knowing God vs. Playing God The beginning verses in this week’s Torah portion are rather challenging to our current understanding of spirituality. They define an impossibly strict code of holiness for the priestly caste. In reading...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 24, 2017 | Torah Reflections
Sh’mini Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 Merging With The Light As our weekly reading resumes, following the end of Passover, we are met by one of the most mesmerizing stories in Torah: the fiery death of Aharon’s sons Nadav and Avihu. Most rabbis explain their...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 3, 2017 | Torah Reflections
VaYikra Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26 The Fire of Divine Love The last few Torah portions of the Book of Exodus were, as we have seen, focused on the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness; a Sacred Space amidst the traveling Israelite tribes where God came to...
by RabbiOlivier | Jun 3, 2016 | General
B’chukotai Leviticus 26:3 – 27:34 The Evolving God of Our Understanding The last Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus, B’chukotai, begins with: “If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments…” [Lev. 26:3] and continues with defining for us...