Weekly Torah Portion Outline

Conclusion of these weekly emails

2009-01-07T06:37:00.003-05:00

Hello,

I have decided to conclude sending out these weekly "Torah Portion Outline" emails.

There is plenty to say about the Torah portion, of course - and many, many websites that offer such information - but this was just intended to provide an outline of the portion, and having archived emails on all of the portions, I consider the mission of this site complete.

Be well,
Mordechai

Vayyigash

2008-12-31T10:47:00.003-05:00

Hi,

This week's parshah is Vayyigash.

As this portion begins, Joseph's brothers face the fear that Joseph will keep Benjamin with him as a slave, and send the rest of them home to their father Jacob. Jacob's heart would be broken at this new loss.

Judah, as leader of the brothers, steps forward to offer his own life in place of Benjamin's life. This courageous act corrects the brothers' error of years earlier - they had sold one son of Rachel (Joseph) because they had viewed him as a threat to their lives, and now Judah endangered his own life to save the other son of Rachel (Benjamin).

Joseph sees that Judah has completed the brothers' repentance by righting the original wrong, and he reveals his identity. He still rebukes them, albeit somewhat subtly, for selling him: Judah's main claim on behalf of Benjamin was, 'If you take him, it will kill my father,' to which Joseph responds, 'I am Joseph, is our father still alive?' referring to the fact that they hadn't cared about this issue in selling Joseph.

The brothers are ashamed and afraid, but Joseph assures them that he won't attack them.
Joseph sends the brothers back to tell their father Jacob that he is alive, and that Jacob should come down. Jacob, reassured by Gd that it is all right to go to Egypt, comes down to Egypt.

Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph's family meets the Pharaoh. The brothers say they are shepherds, and so they are kept apart from the sheep-worshipping Egyptians. Jacob meets the Pharaoh and blesses him.

Due the two-year-old famine, Egyptians are desperate for grain. At the end of the Torah portion they actually sell themselves to Pharaoh, as slaves, to acquire the harvest Joseph had saved up.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Miketz

2008-12-24T08:55:00.002-05:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Miketz. [Note, though, that we also read two other portions this week: one for Rosh Chodesh (the first day of the month in the lunar calendar), the other for Chanukah.]

Miketz begins with the dreams of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. In his dreams, Pharaoh sees thin cows consume fat cows but remain thin, and he sees thin grain consume plump grain but remain thin. His advisors fail to provide convincing interpretations. The butler remembers Joseph, who had successfuly interpreted dreams in prison. The butler tells Pharaoh about Joseph, and Joseph is brought to Pharaoh.

Joseph interprets the dreams as a message about Egypt's economic future. There will be seven years of great crops, and then seven years of famine. Joseph advises Pharaoh to store grain during the years of glut. Pharaoh, awed by Joseph's spiritual and practical ken, assigns Joseph a top post as chair of the project, and chief advisor to Pharaoh.

Years later, as the famine begins, Joseph's brothers descend to Egypt for food. Joseph recognizes them and has them locked up, on false charges of espioniage. They don't recognize him; he was 17 and beardless when they sold him, and now he is 30 and bearded. Further, they don't expect to see him there.

Joseph hears the brothers' conversations among themselves, and specifically their recriminations for selling him, but he is waiting for something more: Joseph wants to put them back in the position of having to choose between their own welfare and that of their youngest brother, the other son of Rachel, Benjamin. So Joseph demands that they bring Benjamin to Egypt.

Jacob refuses to send Benjamin, until his fourth son, Yehudah, points out that they will all die without food. Yehudah guarantees Benjamin's safety with his own life.

The brothers return to Egypt, and then Joseph springs his trap. Joseph arrests Benjamin on false charges of theft, and tells the brothers that they can go home safely, if only they will leave Benjamin with him. The Torah portion ends with that cliffhanger.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Vayyeshev

2008-12-17T06:37:00.002-05:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Vayyeshev.

The portion opens with Yaakov and his family settled peacefully in Israel. Problems quickly develop, though, as Yaakov's apparent favoritism toward Yosef (the 11th of his 12 sons), and Yosef's visions of future personal greatness, alienate his brothers. The brothers suspect that he Yosef out to harm them, and they first decide to kill him, then decide only to sell him. They fool their father Yaakov into thinking Yosef is dead, showing him Yosef's special striped cloak dipped in blood.

The Torah then interrupts the story of Yosef's travels by telling us about the troubles of Yehudah (the 4th of Yaakov's 12 sons) and his children. Yehudah had three sons. His eldest married a woman named Tamar, and died soon afterward. The second son married Tamar, as was the common pre-Sinaitic practice in order to guarantee support for a widow. (This practice is related to the Mitzvah of Yibbum, but is not quite the same.) The second son died, too. We are taught that their sin was in taking steps to prevent Tamar from becoming pregnant when they were together.

Rather than marry off his youngest son to Tamar, Yehudah told her to wait for him to mature. Tamar grew impatient, and fooled Yehudah into living with her himself; she disguised herself as a prostitute. Prostitution was not illegal before the presentation of the Torah at Sinai. Tamar became pregnant, without Yehudah knowing it was from him.

When Yehudah found out that Tamar was pregnant, he was upset - she was supposed to wait for Shelah, and was considered partially married to him already by dint of the expected marriage. Yehudah ordered that she should be killed. Tamar sent Yehudah some of the articles he had left with her, though, showing that she had actually been impregnated by him. Marrying Yehudah would have been a valid substitute for marrying Shelah, and so her actions had been legitimate.

The Torah portion then returns to the story of Yosef. Yosef was sold into an Egyptian's house, and he was successful in running the household. The lady of the house tried to seduce him, unsuccessfully. She was insulted and humiliated, and so she turned the story around, accusing him of attempting to seduce her. Yosef was thrown in jail.

Yosef was successful in helping run the jail, as he had been successful as a slave. He became acquainted with the king's butler and baker, both of whom were in jail for apparent attempts to harm the king. The two of them had dreams, and Yosef interpreted the dreams: The baker would die in three days, and the butler would be restored to his position. This was, in fact, what happened.

Yosef asked the butler to speak to the authorities about him, but the butler forgot once he was out of jail.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Vayyishlach

2008-12-10T06:22:00.004-05:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Vayyishlach.

As our portion begins, Yaakov is returning to Israel, with his family. Rather than wait for Esav to come to him, Yaakov sends messengers looking for Esav. Yaakov learns that Esav has amassed a threatening army, and so he prepares for war as well as for peace - he divides his crew into military camps, but he also sends a gift to Esav. He prays to Gd for help.

Yaakov moves his family, hangers-on and property across the Yabok river, but he lags behind himself, collecting small vessels. Yaakov encounters an unidentified being who grapples with him. Most traditional commentators say this was an angel representing Esav, in human form. The angel cannot defeat Yaakov, but he manages to weaken Yaakov's thigh – to remember this, we don’t eat the sciatic vascular bundle of an animal. The thigh wound symbolizes the fact that Esav will be able to hurt Yaakov’s descendants, but will not be able to destroy them. The angel concludes by giving Yaakov a blessing, and he names Yaakov "Yisrael."

Yaakov and Esav meet, and Esav kisses Yaakov. There is some debate as to the sincerity of the greeting; it seems clear that Yaakov did not trust the greeting, as he refused Esav's offer to join forces. Yaakov went from there to Shechem (Nablus), where he bought land.

Dinah, daughter of Yaakov and Leah, went out to tour the area. She met the local prince, Chamor, who took her and raped her. (For those who have read "The Red Tent," please note that it is a fictional work which matches neither the biblical text nor the rabbinic tradition.) Chamor wanted the family to sell Dinah to him. Outraged, the brothers conspired to make the people of the town vulnerable and then punish them for kidnapping Dinah. Yaakov was upset at their actions, and apparently he did not forgive them, as he rebuked them for their actions before he died (Genesis 49:5-7).

Gd appeared to Yaakov and officially changed his name to Yisrael.

Rachel gave birth to Binyamin, the last of the 12 tribes. She died in childbirth.

After Rachel died, Bilhah, Rachel's maid, became Yaakov's favored wife. Yaakov moved his bed into her tent. Reuven, Leah's oldest son, was upset that his mother had been so publicly spurned. As the sages understand the Torah's cryptic verses here, Reuven moved his father's bed into Leah's tent.

The Torah portion ends with a genealogy of Esav. Regarding Yishmael the Torah gave a genealogy when he left center stage, and the Torah does the same for Esav here. Esav's grandson returns later in the Torah, though, as the founder of the nation of Amalek.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Vayyetze

2008-12-03T06:31:00.002-05:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Vayyetze.

At the end of the previous portion, Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivkah (Rebecca) sent Yaakov (Jacob) to Rivkah's brother Lavan's home to escape Esav (Esau), and to find a wife. Our Torah portion focusses on Yaakov's adventures outside of Israel, and the growth of the Jewish people during that exile.

En route to exile, Yaakov has a vision of angels ascending and descending a ladder. In this vision Gd promises to protect Yaakov, and Yaakov promises to serve Gd materially and spiritually. Yaakov sets up a stone monument, the first of many he would set up as memorials and as places of worship.

Yaakov arrives at a well in Lavan's town, Charan, and rebukes the local shepherds for dallying by the well. When they explain that they need help to remove the well's stone cover, he single-handedly removes the cover.

Yaakov meets his first cousin, Rachel, and is instantly impressed. Her father Lavan enslaves Yaakov, though, to get both Yaakov's wealth and his labor. Yaakov works for 7 years to be permitted to marry Rachel, but Rachel's father Lavan then substitutes Rachel's older sister Leah for Rachel. Yaakov then marries Rachel a week later, promising to work another 7 years for his marriage to her.

The family then grows:
Leah gives birth to Reuven, Shimon, Levi and Yehudah.
Rachel sees that she cannot bear children and she gives her maid Bilhah to Yaakov, and Bilhah gives birth to Dan and Naftali.
Leah sees that she has stopped bearing children and she gives her maid Zilpah to Yaakov, and Zilpah gives birth to Gad and Asher.
Leah gives birth to Yissachar, Zevulun and Dinah.
Rachel gives birth to Yosef.

Yaakov, having completed now 14 years of work for his marriage to Leah and Rachel, demands a salary from Lavan for his work. Lavan agrees, and he and Yaakov arrange odd terms (see the Torah portion itself) which seem to minimize Yaakov's reward. Gd engineers it so that the terms actually increase Yaakov's reward, even as Lavan tries to change the terms repeatedly in order to shrink Yaakov's salary. This occurs over a six year span.

Gd then tells Yaakov it’s time to leave and go home, and Yaakov departs without informing Lavan. Lavan pursues the family, claiming that everything Yaakov possesses is actually his own. Ultimately, Lavan and Yaakov agree to a pact of non-aggression.

The portion ends the way it began, with a vision; Yaakov has a vision of angels as he re-enters Israel.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Toldot

2008-11-26T06:27:00.002-05:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Toldot.

The portion begins with the pregnancy of Rivkah (Rebecca); Rivkah and Yitzchak (Isaac), after years of prayer, are given children. Rivkah learns through a prophetic message that her very active fetuses are twins, and that they are destined to battle each other for supremacy.

Those two children are Yaakov and Esav (Jacob and Esau). Yaakov is born holding on to Esav's heel, the fulcrum of Esav's leverage, and spends much of his life using that grip to his advantage.

As the children age, they pursue different ends. Esav is a hunter and bandit, while Yaakov stays in the tent and studies. Yaakov is not without guile, though; he gains leverage over Esav when Esav comes in starving from the fields, and he convinces Esav to sell the inheritance of the first-born to him. Note that this is not the same as the blessing of the firstborn; those appear to be two different entities.

There is a famine, and the family moves to Grar, a Philistine city. Yitzchak and Rivkah, learning from Avraham and Sarah, pretend that they are brother and sister to prevent the people from killing Yitzchak to take Rivkah. No one actually took Rivkah, though, before their charade
fell apart and they were discovered to be husband and wife.

The Philistines created trouble for Yitzchak and Rivkah, filling in their wells and forcing them to move from place to place, but Gd helped them achieve financial success. Ultimately, Avimelech, the Philistine leader, made a treaty with them.

Esav married at age 40, modeling his actions on his father Yitzchak's marriage at age 40. Esav's wives were idolatrous, though.

As Yitzchak aged, his vision weakened. He neared the age at which Sarah had died (127), and he decided to communicate to Esav the blessing which Gd had given Avraham, and Avraham had given to Yitzchak. Rivkah found out, understood Esav for who he was, and had Yaakov take advantage of Yitzchak's physical blindness in order to get the blessing.

Yitzchak agreed, in retrospect, that it was proper to bless Yaakov. Some suggest that he knew all along what was happening, but this is difficult to see in the Torah's sentences and in the early commentators.

In the aftermath, Rivkah heard that Esav was going to try to kill Yaakov. She told Yaakov to flee, under the pretext of finding a wife for himself with her family in Aram.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Chayyei Sarah

2008-11-19T10:16:00.002-05:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Chayyei Sarah.

The portion begins with Sarah's death and burial. Avraham eulogizes Sarah and tries to acquire a burial plot in Hebron. In negotiations, Ephron, a local Hittite, at first acts in a generous manner, then tries to take advantage of Avraham by over-charging for the land. Avraham over-pays for the land.

Avraham charges his servant Eliezer to leave Israel in order to find an appropriate wife for Isaac. Isaac is supposed to remain in Israel due to his special status as an offering to Gd, so Eliezer is sent to Avraham's grand-nephew, B'tuel.

Eliezer turns to Gd for help, asking that the right girl come to the well and perform a great act of kindness, so that he will know she is the right one. He asks that she offer water for the camels, as well as for himself. Rivka (Rebecca), B'tuel's daughter, does exactly that when she comes out to the well.

Eliezer goes back to her house, where everyone agrees to the marriage. The next day, Lavan, Rivka's brother, begins to protest and stall. Rebecca overrules him, and goes with Eliezer.

Avraham re-marries, marrying a woman named Keturah. Some say that Keturah is the same person as Hagar, Sarah's former maid. Avraham has children with her, but none of them display the greatness of Avraham and Sarah.

Avraham dies, and Yitzchak (Isaac) and Yishmael bury him. Yishmael indicates his repentance for his earlier sins by allowing Yitzchak, the younger of the two, to act ahead of him in the burial.

The portion concludes with a genealogy of Ishmael and a mention of his death. Yishmael wouldn't actually die for a long time afterward, but because he isn't relevant for the rest of the book of Genesis, the rest of his story is recorded at this point.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Vayyera

2008-11-12T07:31:00.002-05:00

Hi,

This week's portion is the jam-packed parshah of Vayyera:

Avraham and the Angels
[The sequence of events at the beginning of this Torah portion may be understood in several ways because of ambiguity in the text; here is one of the traditional ways to understand it:]
Avraham circumcised himself at the end of last week's portion, and he was very weak afterward. Tradition teaches that the third day after a surgery is the day of the greatest pain, and Gd visited Avraham on that day. Gd sent Avraham three angelic messengers, disguised as human passersby; Avraham thought they were human beings.
Avraham asked Gd to wait while he tended to his visitors, offering them water to wash their feet as well as a full meal prepared with Sarah and Yishmael. One of the guests informed Avraham and Sarah that Yitzchak will be born to them. Two of the guests then departed to travel to Sdom, with a mission to destroy that area and save Lot.

Interlude
Gd decided to destroy Sdom because of their xenophobic cruelty. He informed Avraham of this decision, and Avraham protested that if there were 50 righteous people among them, it would not be right to destroy the whole area. He tried to bargain Gd down to accept fewer and fewer righteous people and save the city.
In the end, Gd didn't tell Avraham whether He would destroy the city or not.

The Guests Arrive in Sdom
The angels arrived in Sdom, and met Lot. Lot insisted that they come to his home, and he offered them water and food (practices he had seen in Avraham and Sarah's home). The townspeople learned of their presence, and attacked the house in an attempt to get at them for abusive purposes. Lot betrayed his lack of righteousness by offering the townspeople his daughters in place of the visitors. Despite Lot's lack of personal merit, the angels defended Lot and his family.
The angels destroyed Sdom and saved Lot, his wife and two daughters, warning them not to look back at the city's destruction; their merit was not great enough to allow them to see the downfall of others, as they surivived. Lot's wife looked back, and was frozen as a pillar of salt in her place.
Lot and his daughters fled. When they camped, Lot's daughters got him drunk and mated with him, thinking that they would not find another man.

Avimelech and the Philistines
Avraham and Sarah saw the devastation of Sdom, and moved away to the southwest part of Israel, an area controlled by the Philistines.
As they did in Egypt in last week's Torah portion, Avraham and Sarah pretended to be brother and sister lest Avraham be killed by those who would kill him and take Sarah. Avimelech took Sarah, but Gd told him to let her go. He did so, and he rebuked Avraham for the deception.

Birth of Yitzchak
Avraham and Sarah moved away, and Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to Yitzchak. Yishmael, Yitzchak's 17-year-old half-brother, became a threat to Yitzchak, and Sarah told Avraham to evict Yishmael along with Yishmael's mother, Hagar. Gd backed up Sarah's words, and Avraham did it.
Hagar and Yishmael ran out of water in the desert, but Gd rescued them when Yishmael called out to Him.

The Binding of Yitzchak
Gd appeared to Avraham and told him to bring Yitzchak up on a mountain. Avraham understood this as an order to sacrifice Yitzchak, and so he prepared to do it even though this would have meant the end of Avraham's dreams for his descendants. At the last moment, Gd told Avraham to spare Yitzchak, and He promised Avraham that his total faith would be rewarded during the lives of his descendants.
We then learn of the birth of Rivkah, who would go on to marry Yitzchak.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lech Lecha

2008-11-02T06:19:00.002-05:00

Hi,

The coming week's Torah portion is Lech Lecha; here's a brief outline of this action-packed portion:

Our portion begins with Gd's instruction to Avraham and Sarah - then named Avram and Sarai - to travel to Israel. He promises to make Avraham's descendants into a great nation, and to give them great blessings.

Avraham and Sarah, with Sarah's brother Lot, arrive in Israel and began to travel around the land. They experience a famine, though, and they leave Israel for Egypt. Sarah pretends to be Avraham's sister rather than his wife, lest the Pharaoh decide to kill Avraham in order to take Sarah (note that Avraham and Sarah expected that Sarah would have been taken to the Pharaoh either way; Avraham was not asking her to give her own life to save his). Sure enough, Sarah is taken to the Pharaoh, but the Pharaoh suffers a mysterious ailment inflicted by Gd whenever he approaches her, causing him to release her.

Avraham and Sarah leave Egypt, heading back to Israel. Lot splits from the family, as he has grown in wealth and needs his own space. He opts for the area of S'dom (Sodom); he selects the site for its beauty. Lot runs into trouble, though. An alliance of four kings defeats the forces of S'dom and four other nations, and captures him in the process. Avraham hears of this and comes to the rescue, defeating the four kings. He refuses to take from the spoils, though, asking only for an amount for his allies. Avraham says he does not want anyone to be able to say that he had enriched Avraham.

Gd then appears to Avraham and promises him great wealth. Avraham replies that wealth is useless to him, as he has no heir. Gd responds that Avraham and Sarah will have children, and those children will be strangers in a land not their own. They will be oppressed, and then they will return to Israel with great wealth.

Sarah sees that she cannot become pregnant, and she convinces Avraham to take her servant, Hagar, as a concubine. Hagar immediately becomes pregnant, and begins to treat Sarah poorly. Sarah responds by giving Hagar more work, and Hagar flees the house. An angel appears to her and instructs her to return to the house, informing her also about her son Yishmael's violent future.

Thirteen years later, Gd tells Avram that he will now be called "Avraham (Father of many nations)" instead of "Avram (Great father)." Sarai will now be called "Sarah (Queen)" instead of "Sarai (My queen)." Gd promises them that they will have a son, who will become a great nation.

Avraham is given the mitzvah of circumcision, and he circumcises his household.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Noach

2008-10-29T18:42:00.001-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Noach:

The portion begins as Gd tells Noach to build the ark. Gd is going to destroy the world via a Flood, due to His frustration with the population's acts of Chamas. Chamas refers to the self-serving use of force to take property from people, or to kidnap people themselves. Gd decides to roll Creation back to its beginning, restoring the world to a lifeless state in which the land is again covered by water.

Gd instructs Noach to build a large ark, and save the remnants of the world's population. This exercise in kindness would stand as a strong foundation for the post-Flood world.

After the Flood, the ark lands. Noach proves that he has learned the lesson of generosity, by offering a gift to Gd from his own property. Gd then declares that He will not bring another Flood; people have natural greedy aspirations, but they can also overcome those desires. Gd assigns the rainbow special symbolism, marking His covenant with humanity.

Noach grows grapes and drinks their wine, and becomes intoxicated. His grandson, Canaan, a forerunner of the nations the Jews would meet on leaving Egypt, abuses the drunken Noach. Noach curses Canaan, and Canaan's descendants.

We are then told of the lineage of Noach's descendants, down to Avraham and Sarah.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Bereishit

2008-10-22T20:38:00.002-04:00

Hi,

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is Bereishit, the beginning of the Torah. There is a lot to say in Bereishit; I will be as concise as I can manage:

The portion begins with the creation of the universe in 6 days. It is clear that at least some of this account is intended to be understood allegorically rather than as a literal historical account. The Talmud declares that the Torah's account of Creation is one of those areas which are shrouded in mystery, and its secrets are not for public consumption.

Adam and Eve are instructed to guard the Garden of Eden, and to refrain from eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Commentators offer varying explanations of the Tree's role; one popular view is that eating from the fruit meant internalizing good and evil, so that one would lose the ability to objectively evaluate choices, and one would now feel a personal desire for good and for evil.

A serpent convinces Eve to eat from the Tree, arguing that this would make them Creators like Gd. Eve eats, and then gives the fruit to Adam to eat. Gd evicts them from the Garden. He gives them punishments which make their creative abilities painful and difficult - Eve in bringing life into the world, Adam in producing life from the ground.

Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain kills Abel in jealousy over Abel's relationship with Gd; Cain then performs the world's first act of repentance, and Gd alleviates some of his punishment.

The Torah then records the generations between Adam/Eve and Noah. There is much more here, of course...

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah

2008-10-19T07:25:00.001-04:00

Hi,

This Tuesday and Wednesday are Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, and we have special Torah readings.

On Tuesday we read from the end of the Torah's "Reeh" portion, Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17. This portion is read on the last day of each holiday - the 8th day of Pesach, the 2nd day of Shavuot, and Shmini Atzeret. It is selected for its digest of the different holidays, as well as for its specification that one is not to ascend to the Beit haMikdash [Temple] in Jerusalem "empty-handed." In the absence of a Beit haMikdash this is applied as a reference to tzedakah, and we fulfill it by making Yizkor pledges.
We also read a second reading, regarding the special "Musaf" Temple offering of Shmini Atzeret. That comes from Numbers 29.

On Simchat Torah night, we begin to read the Torah's last portion - "veZot haBerachah." There are varying customs as to whether one reads 3 or 5 segments. This is not a "regulation" Torah reading; it is done to celebrate as we near the completion of the Torah.

On Simchat Torah day, we read from 3 Torah scrolls:
1. We complete the Torah, by reading its last portion..
2. As we do on Shmini Atzeret, we read the special "Musaf" Temple offering of Shmini Atzeret, since Simchat Torah is really a second day of Shmini Atzeret. This comes from Numbers 29.
3. We begin the Torah again, reading from Bereishit. This is not a "regulation" Torah reading. It is done in order to demonstrate that we never truly complete our Torah study; we simply begin again, hopefully with a greater level of understanding than we had a year ago.

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Succot

2008-10-12T09:22:00.002-04:00

Hi,

This Tuesday (and Wednesday outside Israel) we read a special reading for Succot. The reading is the same for both of the first two days of Succot - it is Leviticus 22:26-23:44, also known as "Shor O Chesev."

The Torah reading begins by stating that one may not slaughter cattle before they are eight days old. This is generally understood to be a concern that the animal may not be viable; an animal which is dying is not Kosher, even if it undergoes sh'chitah (kosher slaughter).

The Torah also mentions the rule that one may not slaughter an animal and any of its young on the same day. (The Sefer haChinuch, seven centuries ago, explained this as an eco-mitzvah to preserve species.) This has special relevance for holidays, when people tend to use more meat for private meals as well as for Temple offerings.

The Torah then lists the holidays and their practices - Shabbat, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh haShanah, Yom Kippur and Succot.

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Ha'azinu

2008-10-06T06:12:00.000-04:00

Hi,

This week's Torah portion is Haazinu.

Most of this portion is recorded in the Torah in poetic form, as two columns. It is a song describing sin, retribution and redemption, employing unusually flowery, poetic language. Even the musical cantillation notes reflect that.

At one point, Gd expresses scorn for a nation which sees events and does not understand that Gd is behind them. It isn’t clear who the recipient of Gd’s mocking tone actually is – the Jews who have sinned, or the nations who think they have triumphed on their own merits, instead of as Gd’s tools. The commentators differ on this point.

Ultimately, the Jews are told (Deut. 32:47) that the Torah is not "Reik Mikem," "empty from you." Torah is not foreign; it relates to each of us.

The portion ends with Gd’s final instruction to Moshe – that Moshe should ascend the mountain, and expire there.

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Vayyelech

2008-09-28T10:03:00.002-04:00

Hi,

This coming Shabbat we will read Vayyelech.

Vayyelech is the Torah's shortest portion. Moshe begins his final address to the Jews, on the last day of his life. We are told that Moshe never became frail; he died only because Gd had determined that this would be his time.

Moshe relents from the Sturm und Drang of his previous addresses, and presents a message of encouragement for Yehoshua and the nation. He then gives the Jews the last two Mitzvot:
1. Hakhel - Gathering at the Temple every seven years for a national Torah reading by the monarch, and
2. The Mitzvah for every Jew to write a Torah. We can fulfill the Mitzvah of writing a Torah by hiring a scribe to write or fix a Torah. Every time we purchase Torah texts, we fulfill a dimension of this Mitzvah.

Moshe then gathers the nation for a final prophecy, which will make up the rest of the Torah - the portion of Haazinu for next Shabbat, and v'Zot haBerachah for Simchat Torah.

May we all be inscribed and sealed for a great new year,
Mordechai

Rosh haShanah

2008-09-28T10:01:00.003-04:00

Hi,

On the two days of Rosh haShanah we read sections from Bereishit (Genesis) 21 and 22. In addition, on both days, we read a "Maftir" section describing the Temple offerings of Rosh haShanah.

The section for the first day records the birth of Yitzchak (Isaac) to Sarah and Avraham. There are many reasons to read this on Rosh haShanah; the chief reason is that Gd answered Sarah's prayer for a child on Rosh haShanah.
During the period when Sarah could not give birth, Sarah had asked Avraham to marry her maid, Hagar, that he might have a child through her. Avraham and Hagar had a son, Yishmael, who was about 14 years old when Yitzchak was born.
Yishmael was wild, and involved in various sins. Further, he threatened Yitzchak. As such, Sarah asked Avraham to evict Yishmael and Hagar. Avraham was repulsed by the idea, but Gd backed up Sarah. Hagar and Yishmael ran out of water in the desert, but Gd rewarded Yishmael's prayer by sending a well.
The reading concludes with an attempt by Avimelech, a Philistine king, to make a pact with Avraham.

The section for the second day records Gd's instruction to Avraham to "raise up" Yitzchak on a mountain. "Raise up" is a term uniquely associated with sacrificial offerings, and so Avraham prepared to offer Yitzchak to Gd on an altar. Yitzchak, who was 37 years old at the time (based on the recording of Sarah's death right after this story; she was 90 when he was born, and 127 when she died), went along with it.
As Avraham was about to offer up Yitzchak, Gd called to him to stop, and he did so. Gd declared that Avraham had proved his dedication to Gd, and that the result would be that his descendants would receive great blessings. Avraham offered up a ram to Gd; the horn of that ram is our first "Shofar" image in the Torah.
Avraham was then informed of the birth of Rivkah (Rebecca), who would later marry Yitzchak.

May we all be inscribed and sealed for a great new year of health and happiness,
Mordechai

Netzavim

2008-09-24T09:43:00.001-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Netzavim.

We begin by sounding an optimistic note. The previous portion (Ki Tavo) ended with warnings of horrific suffering if we turn away from Gd; this portion reminds the Jews that despite their various Desert debacles, they are still standing. They should not lose hope.

Moshe then describes the Jews' covenant with Gd. This is a covenant which crosses all generations (Deuteronomy 29:14). We all become responsible for each other within this covenant, insofar as correcting visible flaws and encouraging growth (Deuteronomy 29:18).

Moshe promises that repentance will always be possible (Deuteronomy 30:1-6), and that everyone can reach Gd; Gd's Mitzvot are not impossible, and are within our grasp (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). Moshe concludes this portion with a reiteration of our power of Free Will.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Ki Tavo

2008-09-16T18:33:00.002-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is called Ki Tavo.

The portion begins with our obligation to remember that Israel is not our land, but rather it is Gd’s land. This is played out in two Mitzvot: The bringing of the Bikkurim (First Fruits) to Jerusalem, and the timely processing of Tithes.

Bikkurim: The central element of the Bikkurim is the Bikkurim-bearer's formal declaration, recited inside the Temple. The declaration's text includes a five-line summary of early Jewish history, culminating in Gd's delivery of the Jews into Israel. With this text the Bikkurim-bearer acknowledged that his land, and his success, has come from Gd. This Mitzvah of bringing Bikkurim is performed only in the times when there is a Temple in Jerusalem.

Tithes: Under this Mitzvah, a percentage of one's produce goes to the Kohanim, and a percentage goes to the Levites. A third tithe is given to the poor in some years, and in other years was consumed by the owner, in Jerusalem, in the time of the Temple. This third tithe is distributed in its different ways based on a three-year cycle, and at the end of each three-year cycle the owner is responsible to make sure he has properly distributed the tithes of the previous three years. If he has done so, he appears in the Temple and declares the proper disposition of tithes, and asks Gd to bless us.
We still separate these tithes today, but we no longer distribute them due to the absence of a Temple and its rites of purification.

The portion then delivers the instruction for the Jews to record the Torah on stones on their entry into Israel. This would serve a dual purpose of educating both the Jews and the rest of the world.

The Jews are then reminded of their covenant. The Levites deliver this reminder, speaking of great reward and warning of potential punishment. This leads into the Tochachah, a frightening warning of punishment, delivered twice in the Torah - once at the end of the book of Vayyikra (Leviticus), and once here.

The fearsome Tochachah runs through to the end of the Torah portion, and the next portion begins with the statement, "You are still here today; don't panic."

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Ki Tetze

2008-09-10T06:34:00.002-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Ki Tetze.

Last week's portion concluded with military issues, and this week's portion begins with the same - the law of "Eishet Y'fat Toar," governing treatment of female POW's. Jewish men were allowed to bring them home and marry them, provided they first went through a "cooling-off" period in which the women would mourn for their families and accept Judaism. The women could not be forced to accept Judaism.
There is debate among the authorities as to whether the Torah permitted the soldier to live with his intended wife once before he brought her back from the battlefield, or not.

The commentators understand this law as an outlet for the soldier, preventing brutality in the heat of battle by forcing him into a holding pattern to give him a chance to discover whether his feelings are simply the effect of the battlefield.

The portion then discusses inheritance law, dealing with a case where a man has two wives and loves one more than the other, and would like to have her children inherit the greater portion of his wealth. He is instructed to follow the Torah's prescribed structure of inheritance.

The portion then discusses the law of Ben Sorer UMoreh, a rebellious son who develops addictions to meat and alcohol, and steals from his parents to feed that habit. If he refuses to listen to repeated warnings, and he continues this pattern even after being lashed in court, and the parents come back to the court requesting capital punishment, that punishment is administered.

The Talmud points out that the Torah's rules for the child's age as well as the parents' physical stature and mental state, and the requirements for what the child and parents have to do in order to get into this case, render this case an impossibility. Rather, the Ben Sorer UMoreh is introduced here in order to warn parents to keep an eye on their children, and nip addictive and destructive behavior in the bud.

The Torah now deals with social law, presenting laws regarding everything from burial and human dignity, to respect for property, to prevention of cruelty to people and animals. There are laws of local government, too - laws governing marriage and fidelity, and financial institutions.

The portion concludes with a reminder of our war with Amalek. Amalek attacked the Jews when they first came away from the Red Sea, even before the Jews received the Torah at Sinai. We are instructed to remember this battle by a nation which was so adamantly against the basic beliefs of Judaism, that it attacked even though it knew it would lose - Gd had just split the Sea and drowned the Egyptians! We commemorate this with an annual reading of these verses during the winter, right before Purim, and this week those verses are a part of our Torah portion. Someone who missed the special annual reading during the winter can still make it up by hearing this reading, and concentrating on fulfilling that Mitzvah.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shoftim

2008-09-03T10:33:00.002-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Shoftim.

The portion begins with a discussion of the institutions needed to run a Jewish Israel:

We begin with a Judicial System. There must be judges, and fair justice, for all people; social status may not affect justice. We see that judges preserve the social order, but they are also charged with maintaining the religious function of society.

The central court was located in the Temple complex. The judges were situated at the Temple, but they were not necessarily Kohanim (priests); the Torah says to go to "the Kohanim and Levites, and to the judges who will be around in those days."

The Torah then discusses the concept of Monarchy. It is not clear whether monarchy is an ideal, or only a concession to political necessity. The Torah places limits on the monarch's rights and powers.

The Torah then discusses the Kohanim (priests). They would not own land, but would instead live in 48 scattered cities, among the rest of the Jews.

The Torah concludes this section by discussing prophecy, repeating the constant warning against idolatry, and condemning idolatrous practices like sorcery.

The Jews are told they now have prophets because at Sinai they were afraid to hear directly from Gd.

The litmus test for a valid prophet is whether he follows Gd & Torah, or not.

Shoftim then discusses community-oriented laws, including:

Creation of a city of refuge (Ir Miklat) for accidental murderers, to protect social order and ensure justice is maintained.

Hasagat Gevul - The prohibition against cheating other people by invading their property.

Laws of false testimony.

Laws governing the military.

The portion concludes with the section of "Eglah Arufah," detailing a rite to be performed if a murdered person is found outside a town. The town is considered culpable, for their lack of hospitality indirectly caused this person's death out on the road.

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Re'eh

2008-08-27T06:20:00.002-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Re'eh.

The portion opens with Moshe's offer of two paths: Follow the Mitzvot and receive a blessing, or follow a different path and receive a curse. These passages are often cited to show that Gd gives humanity Free Will - people are empowered to choose their paths.

The Jews are instructed to reiterate these declarations of blessings and curses on their entry into Israel, at the mountains of Grizim (curse) and Eival (blessing). Six tribes would stand on one mountain and six on the other, and the Levites in the middle would turn toward each mountain for its respective verses.

The Jews are then informed that Gd will choose a site for a Beit haMikdash (Temple), and that the building of the central Beit haMikdash will render all other altars superfluous. They are to bring all offerings to that Beit haMikdash. At the same time, it is recognized that Jews won’t be able to go the Beit haMikdash daily, and so they are instructed to perform the rite of Shechitah when they prepared meat for their own use. They are instructed to cover the blood with dirt, and not eat the blood.

The Jews are then given another iteration of the constant biblical refrain: Don’t get drawn into idolatry, as may happen if they would follow the Canaanite ways or if they would latch on to a false prophet or just a persuasive person who tried to draw them in that direction.

The Torah presents the laws of Ir haNidachat, an Israeli city which is entirely idolatrous. The Talmud's majority view is that this never actually happened; even having a single Mezuzah in the city would save the city from the "Ir haNidachat" title.

The portion then discusses a key method for preserving our sanctity: The Kosher Diet. We are instructed to think before we eat; there is sanctity even in the base and animal act of ingestion. The Torah follows up with other laws related to preserving our sanctity: Tithing produce so that agriculture gains a level of sanctity, leaving Israel fallow in the Sh'mitah (Sabbatical) Year, giving charity, being kind to slaves, dedicating our first-born animals in the Beit haMikdash.

Finally, the portion concludes with one last, major element of sanctity: How we celebrate our holidays. Rather than have bacchanalian festivals or other types of indulgence, we are instructed to come to the Temple in Jerusalem and celebrate the holidays with our families and with the poor.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Ekev

2008-08-20T06:35:00.003-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is Ekev.

Last week's portion, Va'Etchanan, ended with a warning that the Jews’ right to Israel stems from their adherence to the Torah. This week's portion begins by outlining the relationship between Torah and Israel:

1. Without Torah, the Jews will meet the same fate the Canaanite nations met.

2. When the Jews follow the Torah's laws, Gd will protect them against the other inhabitants of the land.

3. Torah is to be part of day-to-day life in Israel.

Moshe describes the beauty of Israel, too, listing the seven species for which Israel is praised: Wheat, Barley, Grapes, Figs, Pomegranate, Olives and Dates. He instructs the Jews that they should eat, be sated and bless Gd in thanks for their food.

Moshe then brings up a new theme in his 5-week oration: The Golden Calf. He reminds the Jews of what happened the first time they worshipped idols, lest they fall back into it now.

Moshe follows up with a reminder that Gd cares about all people and all events; no action is beneath His notice. He presents a beautiful contrast (Deuteronomy 10:17-18) between the majesty of Gd as King of Kings and the humility involved in His care for human beings of every social stratum.

The portion concludes by reiterating the Divine system of reward and punishment. This paragraph is incorporated into the twice-daily Shema.

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Va'etchanan / Nachamu

2008-08-13T15:37:00.003-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is VaEtchanan. This Shabbat is also known as Nachamu, 'Be Consoled,' which is the title of this week's post-Tishah b'Av Haftorah of consolation.

VaEtchanan begins with Moshe's description of his prayer to be allowed to enter Israel. Moshe details Gd's refusal to allow him to enter Israel, and then Moshe turns to the people and explains what he wants them to do after he passes on.

Moshe tells them:
1. Don't forget Sinai, and the Torah I have taught you.
2. Don't stray into idolatry.
3. Always remember that repentance is possible; even when you stray and suffer national punishment, Gd will accept you back if you return

Moshe then begins to prepare the Jews for life in Israel.

He first establishes cities of refuge, which are meant as safety zones for people who kill accidentally. Moshe establishes three cities on the eastern side of the Jordan River; when the Jews enter Israel they establish three more such cities. Moshe's cities were not "activated" until the other cities were established, but Moshe wanted to do as much as he could toward the Mitzvah.

Moshe then recounts the theology that will mark the Jews as a unique nation in Israel. He reminds them of their experience at Sinai, repeating the Ten Commandments and recalling the nation's awe at that revelation. He instructs the people in the basic belief in one Gd, reciting the "Shma" and declaring the Mitzvah of loving Gd.

Moshe then warns the Jews that in their success in Israel they shouldn't forget Gd and assimilate among the Canaanite nations; they must retain their unique spiritual identity.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Devarim / Chazon

2008-08-06T06:37:00.003-04:00

Hi,

This week's portion is D'varim.

(This Shabbat is also called "Shabbat Chazon," because of the special Haftorah portion called "Chazon," which is always read the week before the fast of Tisha b'Av. This Haftorah portion is traditionally read with special musical notes reflecting mourning; these are the same notes used to read the book of Eichah on Tisha b'Av.)

D'varim is the start of Moshe's 5-week speech to the Jews, originally presented from the 1st of Shevat through the 7th of Adar, on the eastern side of the Jordan. Moshe provides a history of the Jewish experience in the desert. Moshe specifically recounts the low points; he is trying to make sure these errors aren’t repeated after his death.

This week's portion of the speech covers the following points:
1. Moshe recounts his exasperation with handling an entire nation. He discusses the establishment of judges, and his instructions to the judges.

2. The mission of the Spies who were to investigate a military approach to the land, and who ended up giving a negative report and discouraging the nation. When the nation's males rebelled against Gd for bringing them there, Gd decreed that this generation of military-aged males would die in the desert, and the next generation would enter Israel.

3. The Jews' approach to Edom, the descendants of Esav, on the way into Israel. The Edomites refused to let them through. The Jews were instructed not to fight them, so they went around.

4. The Jews' approach to the people of Moav, with whom they were not supposed to fight, either. They went around.

5. The Jews' approach to the people of Amon, with whom they were not supposed to fight, either. They went around.

6. The Jews' approach to the Emorites, who refused to let them through. The Jews fought a war and captured many cities on the eastern the side of the Jordan. The tribes of Reuven and Gad, and half the tribe of Menasheh, chose to live there. They agreed to fight for the rest of Israel first, though, and then go back to the eastern side of the Jordan.