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Parashat Behar Bechukotai
Kol Rina An Independent Minyan Parshiyot Behar - Bechukotai May 16, 2020 *** Iyar 22, 5780 Kol Rina – An Independent Minyan, is a traditional egalitarian community. We are haimish (homey/folksy), friendly, participatory, warm and welcoming. We hold weekly services in South Orange as well as holiday services and celebrations which are completely lay led. We welcome all to our services and programs from non-Hebrew readers to Jewish communal and education professionals. Behar – Bechukotai in a Nutshell https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2904/jewish/Behar-Bechukotai-in-a-Nutshell.htm On the mountain of Sinai, G-d communicates to Moses the laws of the Sabbatical year: every seventh year, all work on the land should cease, and its produce becomes free for the taking for all, man and beast. Seven Sabbatical cycles are followed by a fiftieth year—the Jubilee year, on which work on the land ceases, all indentured servants are set free, and all ancestral estates in the Holy Land that have been sold revert to their original owners. Additional laws governing the sale of lands, and the prohibitions against fraud and usury, are also given. G-d promises that if the people of Israel will keep His commandments, they will enjoy material prosperity and dwell secure in their homeland. But He also delivers a harsh “rebuke,” warning of the exile, persecution and other evils that will befall them if they abandon their covenant with Him. Nevertheless, “Even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away; nor will I ever abhor them, to destroy them and to break My covenant with them; for I am the L-rd their G-d.” The Parshah concludes with the rules on how to calculate the values of different types of pledges made to G-d. -
Sfas Emes YESHIVAT HAR ETZION He Parsha Begins: "Vayigash Eilav Yehuda"
Vayigash 5765 Volume XII Number 14 Toras Aish Thoughts From Across the Torah Spectrum which would not apply to those who didn't live and own RABBI DOV KRAMER land in Egypt), it would be consistent with the notion that Taking a Closer Look Yosef was trying to help others do the right thing. And we would expect that, put in a position of power and nd Yosef said to his brothers, 'please come authority, Yosef would make every effort to reshape closer to me,' and they came closer, and he Egyptian society, and those living in it, to better follow “Asaid, 'I am Yosef your brother, whom you sold G-d's commandments. to Egypt" (Beraishis 45:4). Rashi explains that after One of the reasons given for the mitzvah of seeing that his brothers were taken aback after he had "milah" is that it minimizes the desire for physical identified himself, Yosef asked them to come closer so relations. Adultery (and other forbidden relations) are that he could show them that he was circumcised. One included in the 7 categories of commandments that of the questions many of the commentators ask is what non-Jews are required to keep, and the Egyptians were purpose showing that he was circumcised would serve, said to be "awash in licentiousness" (see Rashi on since (as Rashi pointed out on 41:55) Yosef had forced 20:15). The Yefas To'ar therefore suggests that the all of the Egyptians to become circumcised before he Egyptians weren't required (by Yosef) to physically was would sell them food. -
Vayeshev 5777 Torah and Football Rabbi Barry Leff This Week's Torah
Vayeshev 5777 Torah and Football Rabbi Barry Leff This week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev, starts with Joseph having a dream. In that regard, it’s similar to football season, which also starts with a dream. Most teams only dream of having the kind of season Alabama’s having this year. In Joseph’s dream his eleven brothers are gathered around him, bowing down to him. Football is similar – you’ve got eleven brothers bowing down to a coach. In the Torah, of course, it’s God who makes dreams come true. In football, it’s Nick Saban who makes dreams come true. Of course, there are those who have compared Nick Saban to God, and certainly at least here in Alabama, football is right up there as a religion. Judaism is full of arcane rules about how the game of life is played. Football is full of arcane rules about how the sport is played. The rules in both have a great deal of precision. Candle lighting time for Shabbat candles is 18 minutes before sundown. Not just “before sundown.” Not 17 minutes and not 19 minutes. Eighteen minutes. A football field is 53 yards wide. Not 52, not 54, but 53 yards. Football has an offense and a defense. In Judaism too, we have an offense and a defense. The offense is called Satan, the accuser. The defense, your protection, is all the good stuff you’ve done in your life. When you do a mitzvah you create an angel which strengthens your defense. A football game starts with a ceremony: the coin toss, which leads to the kickoff. -
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. -
Parashat Vayeshev
But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, With speech, we have great power and great responsibility. If we emphasize James began with the bridle and the rudder as excellent examples of in the following text: At some point we will have to decide, are we going to be a spring of life – a only the bad and negative aspects, it will gain momentum. With our words, guidance and direction, the rudder and the bridle are both relatively small, source of living water, a hope, an encouragement, and speaking the truth they plotted to kill him. ‘Here comes that dreamer!’ they said to …and he brought their father a bad report about them. – Genesis each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of we have the ability and power to cast people into dark pits. but control the direction of a large body. He used these examples to with love? We must strive to answer yes to this question. illustrate the power of the tongue. With speech we can inuence others for 37:2b [NIV] The Power Positive words can also penetrate deeply. ey have the power to elevate a these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. en better or worse: we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’ – Genesis 37:18-20 [NIV] person out of a negative self-image and empower them. Emphasizing ere are commentators who try to explain this verse by saying that Joseph of Words goodness is a life-saving remedy. …Consider what a great forest is set on re by a small spark. -
PARASHAT SHEMINI the Sin of Nadav and Avihu and the Animals
PARASHAT SHEMINI The Sin of Nadav and Avihu and the Animals Prohibited for Consumption By Rav Amnon Bazak A. The Problem In the aftermath of the tragic death of Nadav and Avihu, the Torah suddenly interrupts the narrative with a command highlighting an additional function of the kohanim: And to distinguish between the holy and the profane, and between the impure and the pure; and to instruct Bnei Yisrael concerning all of the statutes which God spoke to them at the hand of Moshe. (10:10-11) These verses set forth the framework for the chapters that follow in chiastic order. First, the Torah discusses the differences between the impure and the pure, in terms of the types of animals that may be eaten and those that may not (chapter 11), and the various types of impurity and purity (Parashot Acharei Mot, Tazri'a, and Metzora); thereafter, it addresses the differences between the holy and the profane (Parashot Kedoshim andEmor). What do these categories and the differentiation between them have to do with the sin of Nadav and Avihu? Why are the kohanim given the new job of differentiating between the holy and profane and between the impure and the pure specifically here, in the midst of the events of the "eighth day"? In order to answer this question, let us examine the animals forbidden as food as listed in chapter 11. We will find two groups of prohibitions in this chapter, and we will discuss the connection between them and the story of the death of Nadav and Avihu. -
Parshat Matot/Masei
Parshat Matot/Masei A free excerpt from the Kehot Publication Society's Chumash Bemidbar/Book of Numbers with commentary based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, produced by Chabad of California. The full volume is available for purchase at www.kehot.com. For personal use only. All rights reserved. The right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form, requires permission in writing from Chabad of California, Inc. THE TORAH - CHUMASH BEMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY BASED ON THE WORKS OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE Copyright © 2006-2009 by Chabad of California THE TORAHSecond,- revisedCHUMASH printingB 2009EMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARYA BprojectASED ON of THE WORKS OF ChabadTHE LUBAVITCH of CaliforniaREBBE 741 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-208-7511Copyright / Fax © 310-208-58112004 by ChabadPublished of California, by Inc. Kehot Publication Society 770 Eastern Parkway,Published Brooklyn, by New York 11213 Kehot718-774-4000 Publication / Fax 718-774-2718 Society 770 Eastern Parkway,[email protected] Brooklyn, New York 11213 718-774-4000 / Fax 718-774-2718 Order Department: 291 KingstonOrder Avenue, Department: Brooklyn, New York 11213 291 Kingston718-778-0226 Avenue / /Brooklyn, Fax 718-778-4148 New York 11213 718-778-0226www.kehot.com / Fax 718-778-4148 www.kehotonline.com All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book All rightsor portions reserved, thereof, including in any the form, right without to reproduce permission, this book or portionsin writing, thereof, from in anyChabad form, of without California, permission, Inc. in writing, from Chabad of California, Inc. The Kehot logo is a trademark ofThe Merkos Kehot L’Inyonei logo is a Chinuch,trademark Inc. -
Speaker Materials
Speaker Materials Partnering organizations: The Akdamut – an Aramaic preface to our Torah Reading Rabbi Gesa S. Ederberg ([email protected]) ַאְקָדּמוּת ִמִלּין ְוָשָׁריוּת שׁוָּת א Before reciting the Ten Commandments, ַאְוָלא ָשֵׁקְלָא ַהְרָמןְוּרשׁוָּת א I first ask permission and approval ְבָּבֵבי ְתֵּרי וְּתַלת ְדֶאְפַתְּח בּ ַ ְקשׁוָּת א To start with two or three stanzas in fear ְבָּבֵרְי דָבֵרי ְוָטֵרי ֲעֵדי ְלַקִשּׁישׁוָּת א Of God who creates and ever sustains. ְגּבָוּרן ָעְלִמין ֵלהּ ְוָלא ְסֵפק ְפִּרישׁוָּת א He has endless might, not to be described ְגִּויל ִאְלּוּ רִקיֵעי ְק ֵ ָי כּל חְוּרָשָׁת א Were the skies parchment, were all the reeds quills, ְדּיוֹ ִאלּוּ ַיֵמּי ְוָכל ֵמיְכִישׁוָּת א Were the seas and all waters made of ink, ָדְּיֵרי ַאְרָעא ָסְפֵרי ְוָרְשֵׁמַי רְשָׁוָת א Were all the world’s inhabitants made scribes. Akdamut – R. Gesa Ederberg Tikkun Shavuot Page 1 of 7 From Shabbat Shacharit: ִאלּוּ פִ יוּ מָ לֵא ִשׁיָרה ַכָּיּ ם. וּלְשׁו ֵוּ ִרָנּה כַּהֲמון גַּלָּיו. ְושְפתוֵתיוּ ֶשַׁבח ְכֶּמְרֲחֵבי ָ רִקיַע . וְעֵיֵיוּ ְמִאירות ַכֶּשֶּׁמ שׁ ְוַכָיֵּרַח . וְ יָדֵ יוּ פְ רוּשות כְּ ִ ְשֵׁרי ָשָׁמִי ם. ְוַרְגֵליוּ ַקלּות ָכַּאָיּלות. ֵאין אֲ ַ ְחוּ ַמְסִפּיִקי ם לְהודות לְ ה' אֱ להֵ יוּ וֵאלהֵ י ֲאבוֵתיוּ. וְּלָבֵר ֶאת ְשֶׁמ עַל ַאַחת ֵמֶאֶלף ַאְלֵפי אֲלָ ִפי ם ְוִרֵבּי ְרָבבות ְפָּעִמי ם Were our mouths filled with song as the sea, our tongues to sing endlessly like countless waves, our lips to offer limitless praise like the sky…. We would still be unable to fully express our gratitude to You, ADONAI our God and God of our ancestors... Akdamut – R. Gesa Ederberg Tikkun Shavuot Page 2 of 7 Creation of the World ֲהַדר ָמֵרי ְשַׁמָיּא ְו ַ שׁ ִלְּיט בַּיֶבְּשָׁתּ א The glorious Lord of heaven and earth, ֲהֵקים ָעְלָמא ְיִחָידאי ְוַכְבֵּשְׁהּ בַּכְבּשׁוָּת א Alone, formed the world, veiled in mystery. -
Matot - Massei
Matot - Massei MATOT In this weeks' Parshah, the Torah tells us to be very careful about making promises so that we don’t accidentally break them. Instead of making a promise, one should say “I hope I can . .” Last week, we read how Pinchas killed Zimri and the Midianite woman when they tried to marry against G-d’s will. G-d now commands the Jewish people to wage war against the Midianites for trying to convince the Jews to act immorally and worship idols. Moshe chooses 1,000 men from each of the twelve tribes to serve as soldiers and appoints Pinchas as one of the leaders of the army. When the Midianites see the Jewish army coming to fight them, they laugh and say, “The Jewish army is so small, we will win over them for sure!” However, with G-d’s help, the Jewish army is victorious over the Midianites without losing even one soldier. After the war is over, two tribes, Reuven and Gad, approach Moshe to make a request. They ask him if they can settle with their families on the east side of the Jordan River instead of crossing the river and entering the Land of Israel. “Why didn’t they want to join the rest of the Jewish People and enter into land of Israel?” you might wonder. Well, these two tribes owned a lot of cattle. They noticed that the land on the east of the Jordan was very fertile, with rich, green grass for their cattle to graze. Also, they knew that Moshe would not be buried in the Land of Israel and so they wanted to remain near Moshe’s burial place. -
Parsha Plug: Parshat Lech Lecha Bereshit 12:1-4, 15:1
בס׳׳ד Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn October 2018 Parsha Plug: Parshat Lech Lecha בראשית יב:א־ד, טו:א Bereshit 12:1-4, 15:1 א וַיּ֤ ֶֹאמר ה' א ְל־אַבר֔ם לך־לך֛ ֵמאַרְצך֥ And the Lord said to Avram, “Go forth from your land and from your 1 ֶ ָ ְֶ ְָ ֽ ְ ָ ִוּמֽמּ ַוֹלדתּך֖ ִוּמֵבּ֣ית ִאָב֑יך אל־האָ֖רץ א ֶשׁ֥ר birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you. 2 ְ ְ ָ ָ ֶ ָ ֶ ֲ אַראךּ: ב ואע ְשׂך֙ לג֣וֹי גּד֔וֹל וַאָב֣רְכך֔ And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make ְֶֽ ָ ְֶֽ ֶ ָ ְ ָ ֲֽ ֶ ָ וַאגַדּל֖ה ְשֶׁמ֑ך והיֵ֖ה ְבּרָכה: ג וַאָברָכה֙ your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 And I will bless those who ֲֽ ְָ ָ ְֶֽ ָֽ ֲֽ ֽ ְ ְמָבֲ֣רֶכ֔ ָיך ְוּמַקֶלְּלָך֖ אָאֹ֑ר וְנְִבְרכ֣וּ ְבָך֔ כֹּ֖ל bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and all the families of the ִמ ְשְׁפּחֹ֥ת האדָמה: ד וַיֵּ֣לך ְאַבר֗ם ַכּא ֶשׁ֨ר earth shall be blessed in you.” 4 And Avram went, as the Lord had spoken to ֲָֽ ָֽ ְֶ ָ ֲֽ ִדֶּבּ֤ר ֵאָליו֙ ה' וַיֵֶּ֥לְך ִאתּ֖וֹ ל֑וֹט וְ ְאַבָר֗ם him, and Lot went with him, and Avram was seventy five years old when he ֶבּ ָן־חֵמ֤שׁ ָשׁנִים֙ וְִשְׁבִע֣ים ָשׁנָ֔ה ְבֵּצאת֖וֹ ֵֽמָחָֽרן: .left Haran ר' חיים פלטיאל בראשית יב:ב Rav Chayim Paltiel on Bereshit 12:2 והיה ברכה. שהברכות נתונים בידך. וק' דהיינו ואברכה You will be a blessing’:...Some say this blessing is the blessing‘ מברכך. -
Ki Tavo Nidhe Israel 2020
1 of 3 で ’ わ゙る D’var Torah Nidhe Israel Ki Tavo: “And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and dost possess it, and dwell therein;” (Deuteronomy 26:1). One of themes with which this week’s Torah portion Ki Tavo deals with is the relationship between God and the people of Israel as we read: “You have affirmed this day that the Lord is your, God, that you will walk in His ways, that you will observe His laws and commandments and rules, and that you will obey Him. And the Lord has affirmed this day that you are, as He promised you, His treasured people who shall observe all His commandments. (Deuteronomy 26:17-18) What does this mean? how is our relationship to God and what is God’s relationship with us. I loved William Norman Ewer’s jingle: “How odd Of God To choose The Jews” and then the Jewish response which goes as follows: “Not quite So odd – The Jews Chose God” There is no doubt that it was the Children of Israel who chose God as we can see from the words in Exodus 24:7 “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the hearing of the people; and they said: “All that the LORD hath spoken will we do, and obey.” It was without questioning that the Israelites accepted God’s words and instructions. However as we know no relationship can be one sided, and so God would have needed to accept us as people He can as it were work with and who can and would fulfil His commandments and He would thus in return be our partner. -
CBS Torah Weekly Matot Masei 2020
J U L Y 1 8 , 2M0 A2 Y0 |8 , M 2A0 T2 O0 T|- ME AMSOERI | P A G E 1 Congregation Beth Sholom TORAH WEEKLY Learning Initiative ז"ל A Project of the Linda Mitgang To sponsor, please click here The Longest Three Weeks BY RABBI KENNETH HAIN ZMANIM [email protected] Candle-lighting 8:04 pm Mincha 7:00 pm Clearly this summer of the pandemic is a summer of our 8:12 pm discontent. Since March we have struggled with increasing 7:45 am restrictions and numbing isolation. Our celebrations are Shacharit Hashkama 8:45 am curtailed and our social interactions are minimal, and now Shacharit Sephardic 9:15 am we find ourselves in the Three Weeks period before Tish A Shacharit Joel Shiff/Main 8:10 pm B’Av and it hardly feels different from the past four months. Mincha Shiur with Rabbi Miller 8:25 pm I have been exploring new understandings of this Three Maariv 9:05 pm Week period. Our son Rabbi Yonah Hain at Columbia Shabbos Ends 9:11 pm University Hillel has shared with me some remarkable ideas and I hope to share them with you next week in a two part IN THIS ISSUE Zoom series – “ The Challenge of Lamentation” Monday, & Tuesday, July 20-21. 1 The Longest Three Weeks Rabbi Hain Much of our tradition focuses on the anticipation of what will 2 On the 5T's Vaad HaKashrus happen after the Three Week period of sadness. A Midrash Rabbi Fogel from Eicha Rabba 1:2 demonstrates this approach: 4 An Alternate Ending to the Torah “…she has no comforter…” (Lamentations 1:2) – R.