Torah Reflections

"An Eye For an Eye": Retributive or Restorative Justice?: Emor 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 been a pretext for abandoning one’s Jewish (or Christian)...

The Pursuit of Holiness: Acharei Mot-Kedoshim Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Leviticus 16:1-20:27 The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the entire Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy. [Lev. 19:1-2] Most...

We Are Energy Beings: Tazria-Metzora Tazria-Metzora: Leviticus 12:1-15:33 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; although no one knows...

Joy and the Possibility of Forgiveness: Sh'mini Sh'mini: Leviticus 9:1-11:47 The inaugural ceremony of the Tabernacle’s dedication and the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood which began with last week’s Torah portion, concludes this week. “BaYom...

The Light of Our Heart: Tzav Tzav: Leviticus 6:1-8:36   In my approach to Torah, I see the text as myth, not reality. I presuppose that, as such, the stories it conveys speak of universal archetypes relating to the human spiritual journey, and seek to unpack the...

The Fire of Divine Love: VaYikra VaYikra: Leviticus 1:1-5:26 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...

Calling All Angels: Vayak'hel-Pekudei Vayak'hel-Pekudei: Exodus 35:1-40:38 We are entering into the closing chapters of the Book of Exodus. This week’s Torah portion marks the retelling of the building of the Tabernacle in accord with the instructions Moses had...

Living Our Lives "All in": Ki Tissa Ki Tissa: Exodus 30:11-34:35   I have been fascinated, this year, by Moses’ spiritual evolution one Torah portion at a time. Since the beginning, I noticed, Moses has been ambivalent toward the Israelites; remaining somewhat...

The Olive Oil Paradigm: Tetzaveh Tetzaveh: Exodus 27:20-30:10 You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light, to kindle an eternal light. Aaron and his sons shall set it up in the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain...

Temples Within Temples Within Temples: T'rumah T'rumah: Exodus 25:1-27:19   We find, in this week’s Parashah the Divine injunction that adorns Bet Alef’s new ark: “V’asu Li Mik’dash, v’Shachan’ti b’tocham – Let them make Me a Sanctuary that I might dwell among...

How to Be Holy: Mishpatim Mishpatim: Exodus 21:1-24:18   Both this past week and this week’s Torah portions speak of God’s desire for us to be holy. Last week, just before the Decalogue, God said: “… all the earth is Mine, and you shall be to Me... a holy...

The End of Belief: Yitro Yitro: Exodus 18:1-20:23 We finally reached Mount Sinai, ten weeks after escaping Egypt. 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...