by katie@betalef.org | Nov 14, 2016 | General, Torah Reflections
Lech Lecha Genesis 12:1 – 17:27 Abraham: A Promise For The Future This week’s Torah portion marks the beginning of the Patriarchal story in the Book of Genesis. Abraham receives God’s call to leave his home and travel to an unknown land with the assurance of...
by katie@betalef.org | Sep 26, 2016 | General
Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8 Listening to God’s Voice As the rabbis of Talmudic times ordered the daily prayer schedule, they made sure we recite the Sh’ma—the central affirmation of our tradition—at least three times a day; during morning and evening...
by RabbiOlivier | Sep 17, 2016 | General
Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 Why There’s a Blessing for Everything As we find ourselves entering the second half of the book of Deuteronomy, our weekly parasha/portion contains a record of individual, familial, and communal laws and...
by RabbiOlivier | Aug 26, 2016 | General
Eikev Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25 Truth and Love Here are a few verses in this week’s Torah portion that, to me, symbolize the essential challenge of the spiritual path and perhaps, moreover, the challenge of our western civilization: Be mindful lest...
by RabbiOlivier | Aug 19, 2016 | General
Va-Et’chanan Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11 Because Love is our Natural State This week we find in our parashah the words that are at the center of our daily worship: the Sh’ma, and the first verses of the V’ahavta. While the Sh’ma is calling us to...
