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
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Bereishit
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
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
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah
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
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
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Succot
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
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
Monday, October 6, 2008
Ha'azinu
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
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Vayyelech
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
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
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
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
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