by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
A Connection Through Time Sunday is coming to a close, and tomorrow night is the first night of Passover. I just finished cleaning our house and I can’t imagine there could be any chametz anywhere. Chametz is the Hebrew word that stands for all leavened...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
The Kabbalah of Passover A few years ago, at our annual Bet Alef Community Seder, I shared with those in attendance — members and non-members alike — a tradition that has been in my family for, I suspect, many generations. Growing up, I remember...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
Preparing for Passover #1 Mah Nish’tanah? What Has Changed? This is the time of the year, personally, when I delight in re-opening the Passover Haggadah and in looking inside for more treasures to be revealed. Four years ago I compiled a new version of the...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
M’tzorah Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33 Connecting Near-East & Far East This week’s Torah portion is, admittedly, a challenge to our modern sensibilities. This portion talks about tzara’at, a skin affliction most translators define as leprosy;...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Tazria Leviticus 12:1 – 13:59 Sin is a Divine Gift Our weekly Torah reading begins laying out spiritual practices connected to human birth: “Ishah ki tazria… – When a woman conceives…” [Lev. 12:2] In his commentary on these three...