KI TEITZEI Is All Performed by the Kohen Gadol

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

KI TEITZEI Is All Performed by the Kohen Gadol ACHAREI MOT - incense offered in the Holy of Holies. And it KI TEITZEI is all performed by the Kohen Gadol. KEDOSHIM This continues the powerful and crucial theme of the entire section following Mount Sinai. In G-d’s reach for man, his love of ALIYA-BY-ALIYA man, He has created a place of rendezvous; SEDRA SUMMARY the Mishkan. However, it is rendezvous with care, with reservation, with humility. Rabbi Reuven The building design is with great detail. Tradburks The offerings are with great detail; when Director of they are brought, how they are brought, RCA Israel Region the Kohanim’s role in bringing them. G-d 1st aliya (Vayikra 16:1-24) says: You may approach Me, I want you Aharon is instructed to enter the to approach Me, but with care. Here, He Holy of Holies only through an invites man to rendezvous in the Holy elaborate process of offerings. He is to of Holies – the inner, intimate chamber, bring a private sin offering. And a with the Aron and the tablets, covered by communal sin offering of 2 identical goats, angels. This intimate invitation requires a one as an offering, one sent to the very elaborate procedure; unique offerings wilderness, determined by lottery. The like the scapegoat and the incense, sin blood of both his offering and the offerings, olah offerings. The closer, the communal shall be brought into the Holy more intimate; but also, the more care and of Holies, accompanied by incense. The preparation required. smoke of the incense fills the Holy of Holies. This is a powerful and crucial theme: G-d The (scape) goat is sent to the wilderness. invites man, wants man, but demands The people gain kapara, atonement. man’s understanding of his inadequacy and Entry to the Holy of Holies requires an his human foibles (sin offerings). And while elaborate ceremony of unique offerings; man is invited to the Holy of Holies it is including the scapegoat ceremony and the with great limitation. Not every person, not every day; it is one person, the Kohen Gadol, Keren Malki empowers only one time a year. G-d remains mysteri- families of children with special needs in ous, ineffable, infinite, unknowable. This is Israel to choose home the delicate balance the Torah is creating; care. Donations are G-d wants man. Man is noble, the invitee of tax-approved in Israel, US and UK. G-d Himself. But with enormous deference, Honoring the memory of enormous humility of man’s limited station. Nobility and humility; the majesty in being הי”ד Malka Chana Roth kerenmalki.org 1985-2001, killed in the the invitee of G-d, hand in hand with the 02-567-0602 Sbarro bombing. reality of our woeful inadequacy. 6 TORAH TIDBITS / ACHAREI MOT - KEDOSHIM 5781 discussing how to continue to operate the Zula when the teenagers aren’t always חג 2nd aliya (16:25-17:7) This entire interested in compiling with corona שמח ceremony is done once a year on guidelines, such as not properly wearing Yom Kippur, to gain atonement If you thought and purity. Tell the entire people: all their masks.that thereDue to justCorona, isn ’tthe Zula is sacrifices are to be brought to the Mikdash. operatingthe outside perfect its sea-viewusual location on The Kohen is to offer them, so they are Yaffo Streetapartment since we just cannot be inside. for you... pleasing. We are to no longer offer sacrifices The cold in Yerushalayim wasThink frigid, and to spirits. my hands remained in my again!pockets while I shuffled my body to try and stay warm. Only at the end of the entire description of Yet, a few meters in front of me our Zula how one is to enter the Holy of Holies does counselorsThink Ashkelon were strumming Properties! their guitars the Torah tell us that this is to be done on We have access to the very largest selection of andse asitting-view ap acalmlyrtments –as ex istheyting o rlistened under to the Yom Kippur. As if to say: the goal of Yom construction – especially to fit your personal needs. youth unburden themselves. They were Kippur is to enter the Holy of Holies. It is And best of all – they are very affordable – from seeing the potential in these kids and through man’s approach to G-d that he just $500,000 with just a 15% down payment, wateringmortgage sthem availa bwithle as w eacceptancell as bank gua raandntee s.love gains atonement and purity. because they know that they will be the rd 3 aliya (17:8-8:21) Blood is not futureL I V blossomingE O P P O SleadersI T E ofT HtheE JewishS E A to be consumed, for the life is in people. 0 5 4 4 - 3 3 2 6 2 1 36 DAY the blood. I have given it to you to davidz@A shkelonProperties.com use for atonement on the altar, not to consume. The blood of an undomesticated DECLUTTER animal or bird that is killed for consumption, CHALLENGE that blood is to be covered with earth. Do Avi Join the 36 day challenge for $1 a not do what the Egyptians or Canaanites Executive Director, OU Israel day + 7 bonus days to get ready do. Do My commands; and live. Sexual Save a Life - Gain yours for Pesach. Daily challenge email, relations with relatives are forbidden: video, how tos, & support group. including spouses of parents, half siblings, 1 of 78,424 Finally declutter grandchildren, step-siblings, aunts, in-laws. AND get organized!! In addition, marrying 2 women who are EFRAT www.efrat.org.il 02-5454500 related. Or a married woman. JOIN TODAY! The listing of forbidden relationships www.balaganbegone.com/36 Hotline option avaliable changes the subject from the laws concerning the Mishkan. It is not the first such change of subject. The laws of Kashrut STARTS of Parshat Shemini were also a change of FEB 14, 2021 subject. Thus, the first 2 subjects of laws unrelated to our approach to G-d in the רפואה שלמה Mishkan are food and family. These are the יהודה מאיר בן יקירה first things said to the first man and woman OU ISRAEL CENTER 7 OU ISRAEL CENTER 5 on the 6th day of creation: be fruitful and when do we not need to be vigilant that multiply. And eat of the herbs. Family and what we say is true. And kind. And gives food were said to Adam and Eve. Family dignity to others. Holiness inheres not and food are the first laws to be outlined in just in the Mikdash but in the everyday detail to the Jewish people. treatment of others. 4th aliya (8:22-19:14) A man shall 5th aliya (19:15-32) Do not pervert not lie with a man. Sexual justice by favoring either poor or relations with an animal are powerful. Don’t spread gossip, forbidden. These things (all the above) nor stand by your brother’s blood. Don’t defile the land: it will spit you out. (Parshat hate. Don’t take revenge; love your neighbor Kedoshim) Be Holy, as I, G-d, your G-d is as yourself. Do not interbreed animals, holy. Revere parents, keep Shabbat. Do not seeds, or wear wool and linen. In the land, turn to idols or make graven gods. A fruit is forbidden for the first 3 years of shlamim offering may only be eaten for 2 growth, 4th year holy, 5th year permissible. days. Help the poor and stranger when Do not use divination. Nor round the harvesting a field by leaving dropped or corners of your face or use a straight razor forgotten produce or grapes. Don’t steal, lie on your beard. Nor tattoo. Nor seek sorcery. or swear falsely. Don’t cheat; or tarry Rise before the aged, glorify the wizened. paying wages til the morning. Don’t curse The mention of justice is a foil: in court, the deaf, trip up the blind. we pursue justice. But not on the streets. This aliya begins Parshat Kedoshim, the It is not our place to be judges, so pick best parsha in the Torah. Or at least Rashi favourites, help the victim. And revenge; says so on the first verse: most topics of we are not judges to mete out just revenge. the Torah are contained here. There are If he didn’t lend you, you still should do the 51 mitzvot in 64 verses. We have left the right thing and lend to him. topic of holiness of the Mikdash and focus And 2 of the best verses of the Torah: love on holiness in our behavior. These are the your neighbor as yourself. And rise for greatest themes of ethical behavior, helping the aged. As Rabbi Sacks says: it is easy the poor with dignity, honesty, care for to love mankind, quite a bit harder to love employees, care for the deaf and blind. In the person next door. We see the warts, as just these few verses, our every moment of they see ours. But rise above it. All people human interaction becomes meaningful; have goodness. Rise for the aged; perhaps for the wisdom that life itself brings. Quite In Loving Memory of a contrast to the glorification of youth of David Elijah Feldman z”l our times. דוד אליהו בן ברוך יוסף ועלקא ז"ל 6th aliya (19:33-20:7) Love the on his first yahrzeit convert. Employ accurate weights and measures. One who ט"ז אייר 8 TORAH TIDBITS / ACHAREI MOT - KEDOSHIM 5781 butbut youyou couldcould possiblypossibly dodo them.them.
Recommended publications
  • Andy Russell's Dvar Torah Abraham Heschel Wrote That
    Andy Russell’s Dvar Torah Abraham Heschel wrote that “To pray is to take notice of the wonder, to regain a sense of the mystery that animates all beings, the divine margin in all attainments.” My journey to this day started with prayer. I was raised by Jewish parents who called themselves secular humanists. We observed shabbat and all the major holidays, but with our own secular blessings rather than traditional Jewish prayers. I went to Hebrew school and learned Jewish history, holidays, heritage, and language, but no prayers. I was encouraged to connect with my own spirituality through the lens of Judaism but was given no guidelines. After 5 years of Hebrew school, my brother and I had our b’nei mitzvah in Israel, on top of Masada. We each read a poem or passage in Hebrew and then our own translations into English. It was a beautiful and memorable ceremony but bore no resemblance to a traditional bar or bat mitzvah. There was no Torah; there were no traditional prayers. For years I felt strangely out of place in synagogue – surrounded by Jews celebrating familiar holidays and events, but with prayers and rituals that I knew nothing about. I realized that I grew up steeped in the spirit of kavanah - the more personal intentional dimension of prayer, but without keva – the fixed nature of prayer, to anchor me in tradition. The blessings I grew up speaking and hearing were beautiful, and full of personal meaning, but when I attended synagogue, which I did more and more frequently as I grew older, I realized I did not share a common language with other Jews.
    [Show full text]
  • Parshat Mishpatim 5773
    Written by: Ruth Michaels Editor: David Michaels Parshat Acharey Mot-Kedoshim 5778 At the beginning of this parsha verse 2 states, “Speak to all the congregation of the to cleave to him (u'ldavkah bo). Moreover we are duty bound to do all that is good and children of Israel and say to them: holy shall you be... ". Rav Shimshon Refuel Hirsch perfect ...simply because G-d commanded us to do so." comments that only at the giving of the very first Law which Israel received, the command of the Pesach offering, do we find the order written in similar terms ,to He continues to ask " Why does the Torah say Kedoshim T'hihyu?" “You should be announce the Law to the whole community. The reason for this is because this holy...”. He answers that one should not think that kedoshim t'hihyu refers solely to admonition, "holy shall you be “ refers to the highest degree of moral human perfection forbidden sexual relations due to its juxtaposition to the laws at the end of Acharei Mot and every individual needs to be included in this call to very height of absolute morality. but this phrase refers to each of the Ten Utterances, This means the Jewish people should be holy and sanctify themselves in all matters. Rabbi M Miller suggests that Moshe had to speak to the whole congregation, to each one individually, because in the question of self restraint even from pleasures generally The parsha of Kedoshim follows the sedras from Vaiyikra to Acharei Mot. What is the permitted, each individual must know his own nature...detect in himself the inclinations significance of this order? According to Rav Shimshon Refuel Hirsch, the morality is that threaten to degrade him and exercise on himself those restraints that will restore learned from G-d’s word which rests beneath the wings of the keruvim.
    [Show full text]
  • TORAH INSIGHTS for a MODERN AGE by DAVID ROTENBERG
    TORAH INSIGHTS FOR A MODERN AGE By DAVID ROTENBERG Integrated Studies Final Project Essay (MAIS 700) submitted to Dr. Mike Gismondi in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts – Integrated Studies Athabasca, Alberta August, 2013 Table of Contents Abstract ………………………………………………………………………….. 3 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………... 5 Essay One: Joseph vs. George – A Modern Look at Faith ………………….. 11 Essay Two: What’s in a Name? ……………………………………………….. 18 Essay Three: Talk to Strangers ………………………………………………... 23 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………… 29 References ………………………………………………………………………. 34 2 ABSTRACT Today’s Jewish community features very different demographics from previous generations’ due to large sections of the population being unaffiliated, non-observant, or “Modern Orthodox”. As a result, any efforts to reconnect the unaffiliated and/or reach these other segments of the community for spiritual direction and Torah education must be targeted in new strategic ways. This project employs both the scriptural and comedic knowledge of its author, Rabbi David Rotenberg, a semi-professional stand-up comic, to develop contemporary Torah insights targeted at a modern audience. The project focuses on lessons applicable to three of the 54 weekly portions of the Chumash (Five Books of Moses), Vayigash, Kedoshim, and Emor, each developed as an independent essay, although numerous additional relevant sources are also discussed. Each essay establishes an accepted understanding of the relevant Torah concepts, rooted in the text and traditional commentaries. This conventional thinking is then challenged with original questions, and comedic sources are introduced as a form of unorthodox commentary. The essays conclude by demonstrating a connection and revealing the newly-inspired message. 3 Through the substantive content yielded by the integration of humour sources with Biblical content, the original query – whether new Torah insights could be developed to appeal to a modern audience – can be answered in the affirmative.
    [Show full text]
  • KI TEITZEI Our Torah
    Torah following Ki Tavo. This is the end of KI TEITZEI our Torah. And this section deals not with KI TAVO the present, meaning the successful settling of the Land. It gazes into the future; the dis- tant future, the future that follows a long ALIYA-BY-ALIYA and successful sojourn in the Land. SEDRA SUMMARY 1st aliya (Devarim 26:1-11) When settled in the Land, bring your Rabbi Reuven first fruits as an offering. When Tradburks offered declare the following: My forefa- Director of thers descended to Egypt, were enslaved, RCA Israel Region called out and You redeemed them with a Our Parsha begins the conclusion of our strong arm, bringing them to this Land of Torah. The book of Devarim consists of milk and honey. And I am acknowledging Moshe’s long speech at the end of his life. that I have benefitted from all that, rejoic- His speech is crafted beautifully, a mag- ing in all the good I have been given. num opus of past, present and future. He This mitzvah of bikkurim, of first fruits, is began with a review of our history, includ- a rich one. But besides its own beauty, lies ing successes and failures and their lessons its significance in the narrative of Devarim. in the impending settling of the land. He In bikkurim, the successful farmer gives a then outlined what a Jewish society shall full throated expression of how fortunate look like; 170 mitzvot including ethical he is to be where he is. He stands on the monotheism in all its color, nation build- shoulders of our history.
    [Show full text]
  • Ki Tavo 5773
    Ki Tavo Ki Tavo, 18 Elul 5773 “Your Nation Are All Righteous” Harav Yosef Carmel In this week’s haftara , we find a famous and optimistic appraisal of our nation, which deserves a look as to what brings us such praise and what needs to be done to maintain it. “Your nation are all righteous; forever they will inherit the land” (Yeshaya 60:21). We will also look at it in connection with the once again, unfortunately, relevant issue of Anti-Semitic opposition to brit mila . This phenomenon reminds us of another famous pasuk – this one, from the end of Parashat Ki Teitzei : “Remember what Amalek did to you … he attacked from behind the necheshalim (stragglers)” (Devarim 25:17-18). There are two approaches in Chazal (Medrash Tannaim) as to who these stragglers were: those who strayed from the path of Hashem and were not under the protection of the divine cloud; those who had reservations about Hashem’s providence. The Tanchuma (Ki Teitzei 14) is more specific about the latter group and what befell them: Amalek would cut off the foreskins or Israel and throw them up to the sky, while saying: “Here is what you chose.” There are two important lessons to learn from these statements of Chazal : 1) The commandment to fight Amalek stems from the attack they made against Jews who were spiritually weak. 2) Whoever is not included in the mitzva of mila separates himself from the “divine cloud” – the protection of the Divine Presence. Thank G-d, the great majority of the Jewish community circumcises its baby boys.
    [Show full text]
  • Shabbat Table Sparks Ki Teitzei 5779
    Want to Learn More? Visit www.mySarShalom.com י Or www.myLapid.com שבת שולחן ניצוצות ש מ ח Shabbat Table Sparks א ת Igniting Torah Learning at the Sabbath Table BY RABBI MORDECAI GRIFFIN | A SHABBAT TORAH LEARNING PROGRAM OF SAR SHALOM SYNAGOGUE AND LAPID JUDAISM | Elul 5780 Insights & Questions Psalm of From the Parashah The Parashah “It is a positive duty to express the sanctity of the Sabbath day in words, for it is written: "Remember to sanctify the Sabbath day" (Exodus 20:8); Psalm 32 that is to say, remember it in terms of praise and sanctification. One should Of David, a contemplative song. remember it at its beginning and its conclusion by reciting the Kiddush Blessed is the one whose transgression when the Sabbath begins and the Havdalah when it ends.” is forgiven; whose sin is pardoned. Mishneh Torah, Sabbath 29:1 Blessed is the one whose guilt HASHEM does not count, and in Parashah Ki Teitzei Devarim 21:10-25:19 whose spirit, there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones became brittle You shall not hide yourself…Dt. 22:3 Rabbi Munk brings down that through my groaning all day long. For א HaShem wants Jews to be absolutely committed to the mitzvah of loving day and night Your hand was heavy their neighbor despite our innate instinct of selfishness. Very often we upon me. My strength was drained as in don’t want to stop what we are doing in order to help someone else. Rabbi the droughts of summer. Selah.
    [Show full text]
  • Through the Tanakh in a Year
    Jul 4 – 10, 2021 Parshat Matot-Masei Aug 15 – 21, 2021 Parshat Ki Teitzei 4 S Job 13–16 15 S Nehemiah 1–3 5 M Job 17–21 16 M Nehemiah 4–6 6 T Job 22–26 17 T Nehemiah 7 8 7 W Job 27–30 18 W Nehemiah 9 10 8 Th Job 31 32 19 Th Nehemiah 11–13 THROUGH THE TANAKH 9/10 Torah Portion: Num30:2 –36:13 20/21 Torah Portion: Deut 21:10–25:19 Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24 Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10 IN A Y EAR Jul 11 – 17, 2021 Parshat Devarim Aug 22 – 28, 2021 Parshat Ki Tavo 5781 / 2020 — 2021 11 S Job 33–35 22 S A Jewish Bible Reading Plan for 12 M Job 36–38 23 M 13 T Job 39–42 24 T 14 W 25 W 15 Th 26 Th Oct 11 – 17, 2020 Parshat Bereshit Nov 15 – Nov 21, 2020 Parshat Toldot 16/17 Torah Portion: Deut 1:1–3:22 27/28 Torah Portion: Deut 26:1–29:8 11 S Joshua 1–3 15 S 1 Samuel 21–23 Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27 Haftarah: Isaiah 60 SIMCHAT TORAH (See *Holidays) 16 M 1 Samuel 24–25 12 M Joshua 4–6 Jul 18 – 24, 2021 Parshat Vaetchanan Aug 29 - Sep 4 Parshat Nitzavim 17 T 1 Samuel 26–27 13 T Joshua 7–9 18 W 1 Samuel 28–31 18 S Ruth 1 2 29 S 14 W Joshua 10–11 19 Th 2 Samuel 1–2 19 M Ruth 3 4 30 M 15 Th Joshua 12–14 20 T 31 T 16/17 Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1–6:8 20/21 Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19–28:9 21 W 1 W Haftarah: I Samuel 20:18-42 Haftarah: Malachi1:1 –2:7 22 Th 2 Th Oct 18 – 24, 2020 Parshat Noach Nov 22 – 28, 2020 Parshat Vayetzei 23/24 Torah Portion: Deut 3:23–7:11 3/4 Torah Portion: Deut 29:9–30:20 Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1-26 Haftarah: Isaiah61:10 —63:9 18 S Joshua 15–18 22 S 2 Samuel 3–5 19 M Joshua 19–21 23 M 2 Samuel 6–8 Jul 25 – 31, 2021 Parshat Eikev Sept
    [Show full text]
  • 042421 Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
    Candle Lighting W E L C O M E T O T H E D A T M I N Y A N ! (earliest) 6:18 pm SHABBAT ACHREI MOT-KEDOSHIM (latest) 7:28 pm April 24, 2021 // 12 Iyar 5781 DAT Minyan - 560 S. Monaco Pkwy., Denver, CO 80224 - 720-941-0479 - www.datminyan.org Havdalah 8:30 pm We are excited to have new space for our shul in the main sanctuary at TRI for weekday and We invite men and women to sign Shabbat minyanim. Our deepest thanks to The Jewish Experience for hosting us over the last many up HERE for our in-person daily months. Thank you to Rabbi Serota for welcoming the DAT Minyan into his building! and Shabbat minyan at TRI, located at 295 S. Locust st, and our additional Shabbat Outdoor D'var Torah by Rabbi Sacks zt"l Auxiliary Minyan, located in the Rabbi Sacks z’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Polotsky backyard at 7369 E Byers Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will carry on distributing these essays each week, Ave. All davening times and classes so people around the world can continue to learn and be inspired by his Torah. are published on our website and It was a unique, unrepeatable moment of leadership at its highest height. For forty days calendar. Moses had been communing with God, receiving from Him the Law written on tablets of stone. Then God informed him that the people had just made a Golden Calf.
    [Show full text]
  • Chaim Kramer- Parshat Ki Tavo,Chaim Kramer- Parshat Ki Teitzei,Come to Me Rosh Hashanah with Chaim Kramer,Chaim Kramer- Parshat
    R’ Chaim Kramer – Shiur on Likutey Moharan written by Chaim Kramer | May 1, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-WJ-sg-9OQ&feature=youtu.be Pesach With Rebbe Nachman – Interviews With Rabbi Tauber and Rabbi Kramer written by breslov.org | May 1, 2018 Featuring interviews with Rav Elchonan Tauber and Reb Chaim Kramer Four Amazing Live Pre-Pesach Events! written by breslov.org | May 1, 2018 Prepare for Pesach with Rebbe Nachman Before you drink the Four Cups, before the Four Sons ask the Four Questions, Join BreslovCampus for Four Inspiring Pesach Programs SPECIAL BACK-TO-BACK LIVE PESACH EVENTS Sunday, March 25 Monday, March 26 Rebbe Nachman: A Taste of Pesach with C.R. Zwolinski Tuesday, March 27 The Breslov Haggadah with Yossi Katz 8:30 pm to 9:15 pm An Important BRI Family Update written by Yossi Katz | May 1, 2018 Dear Friends, Two weeks ago, we shared with you the troubling news that Reb Chaim and Gita Kramer’s daughter – Cheena Rachel bat Gita Genendel was diagnosed with a serious cancer. Your outpouring of caring, love and prayer has been tremendous and mean so much to the family. Your response has proven once again that BRI is truly a large extended family; this is of course thanks to the Kramer family for everything they have done to introduce Rebbe Nachman to us and for bringing us together in study, song and prayer in Uman and throughout the world. At this time, we can share that Rachel has begun therapy, will access wisely the best healthcare Israel has to offer and draw upon HaShem’s mercy and miracles to assist.
    [Show full text]
  • Ki Teitzei Ki Tavo
    to observe Hashem’s commandments. KI TEITZEI Moshe emphasizes the fact that we as KI TAVO a people have chosen Hashem to be our Lord and similarly Hashem has chosen us to be his most special and treasured PARSHAT KI TAVO nation. SHORT SUMMARY The fourth aliyah describes a scene which will unfold later in the history of the people In the first aliyah of Parshat Ki Tavo as they make their way into the Land. They the Torah commands the people of must gather large stones when they cross Israel living in the land of Israel to bring the Jordan river and on these stones they their first fruits to the Beit Hamikdash. will engrave the entire Torah. This mitzvah is known as bikurim. This obligation applies only to fruit and The fifth aliyah describes a dramatic produce that is actually grown in the land scene that will also unfold when the of Israel: wheat, barley, dates figs, grapes, people of Israel forge ahead and enter pomegranates, and olives. When the their new Land. There they will proclaim Jew arrives in the Beit Hamikdash with blessings and curses on the Mountain of their bounty of fruit a beautiful ritual is Grizzim and the Mountain of Eval. Six observed in which the individual recites tribes were stationed on the top of each a precise text praising Hashem for the of the mountains and the tribe of Levi blessing of the Land and its gifts. with the Holy Ark stood between the two mountains. The aliyah concludes with the The second aliyah lays out the laws abundant blessing that the Israalites will concerning the different tithes that were receive in reward for their dedication and required to be given from one’s harvest.
    [Show full text]
  • September 2019
    CENTER FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORM JUDAISM IN METROWEST tebeVolumeam 64 / No. 1 / September 2019 SelichotA TIME FOR FORGIVENESS A Word from By Dena Stetson Rabbi Sobel UNDERSTANDING SELICHOT PREPARING FOR WHEN I SAW THAT TBA WAS HOSTING A SELICHOT THE NEW YEAR: SERVICE AND PROGRAM ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AT GRATITUDE, REGRET, 8:00 PM, IT GOT ME WONDERING…WHAT IS SELICHOT RESTORATION AND HOW WILL THIS PROGRAM ENHANCE MY SPIRITUALITY? I THOUGHT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE In preparation for these special THE SAME QUESTIONS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND upcoming days in our Reform REVIEWED IT WITH RABBI SOBEL. HERE’S WHAT I FOUND: Movements, I like to read Mishkan Hanefesh — Machzor What is Selichot (S’lichot)? for the High Holy Days (the Selichot are prayers said before and during the High Holidays and other gold and silver prayer books we fast days throughout the year. Literally meaning “forgiveness,” the Selichot Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel use during Rosh Hashanah and prayers may be expressed in any manner (e.g., traditional prayers, poems, music, Yom Kippur). These books are meditation) so long as they encourage individuals to reflect on the past year and filled with prayers, poems, reflections, study texts — the changes they wish to make in the upcoming one. a treasure-trove of riches to help us prepare for this special time on our calendar. Why are the Selichot services so late in the evening? We always try to give our congregants some quiet time According to www.myjewishlearning.com, “Originally, Selichot prayers were for contemplation, silent prayer and reflection with these recited early in the morning, prior to dawn.
    [Show full text]
  • Kedoshim Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:1 - 20:27
    Kedoshim VaYikra (Leviticus) 19:1 - 20:27 Parsha Kedoshim continues the transition that we have followed in this section of the book of VaYikra, from a work primarily directed toward the Kohanim, to one intended for the ordinary Israelite. The people of Israel were to be holy, because G-d is holy. That is the reason and the justification for a series of ethical, ritual and religious rules that comprise this and the following parshiyot in YaYikra. Whereas we might distinguish between the different types of Mitzvot, in Judaism they are all equal, and all equally binding. The people are to observe the commandments and the laws of the sacrifices. They are to provide for the poor and the stranger; leaving the edges of the fields unharvested and the fallen fruits of their vineyards ungleaned, so that the needy could come and gather food. One of the best-known and most beloved verses in the Torah is found in Kedoshim. “V’Ahavta L’rayecha Kamocha …You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (19:18). According to Rabbi Akiba, one of the greatest Rabbis of the period of the Mishnah, this is the greatest teaching in the entire Torah. Indeed, the idea that we all have responsibilities to all people, and the idea that there can be no service to G-d while simultaneously practicing cruelty to others, is one of Judaism’s greatest gifts to the world. Kedoshim warns against insulting the deaf or placing a stumbling block before the blind. Respect and deference must be shown for the elderly.
    [Show full text]