by Sarah Gazitt | May 18, 2024 | General
Emor Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 Toward the end of this week’s Torah portion, we find the verses that have fueled centuries of anti-Semitism and often have been used as a pretext for abandoning one’s Jewish faith. If anyone kills any human being, he shall be...
by Sarah Gazitt | Feb 16, 2024 | General
T’rumah Exodus 25:1 – 27:19 Jewish Mysticism holds as fundamental truth that every being—all of us—is but a container for, a manifestation of the Divine Presence. As such, we are asked to make ourselves—as best we can—selfless, compassionate...
by Sarah Gazitt | Feb 2, 2024 | General
Yitro Exodus 18:1 – 20:23 Finally, ten weeks after escaping Egypt, we arrived at Mount Sinai. There, Moses told us we had three days to purify ourselves and wash our clothing in preparation for our meeting with God. And as morning dawned on the third day:...
by Sarah Gazitt | Aug 25, 2023 | General
Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 Ki Teitzei is the last Torah portion to present us with a collection of laws. Like other parashiot that are heavy on rules and regulations, this one has us struggling with some aspects of the text and truly moved by others....
by katie@betalef.org | Jan 11, 2022 | General
B’Shalach: Exodus 13:17 – 17:16 “God Works in Wondrous Ways” This week’s Torah portion has all the traits of a great adventure novel. We ran away, but they pursued us. We took an unexpected turn that brought us to the edge of an...
by katie@betalef.org | May 13, 2020 | General, Torah Reflections
The Evolving God of Our Understanding: B’har-B’chukotai B’har-B’chukotai: Leviticus 25:1 – 27:34 The last Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus, B’chukotai, begins with: “If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My...
