Weekly Torah Reading, Emor and Kedoshim, May 11, 2019

Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel): Emor, May 11, 2019    (Outside of Israel: Kedoshim. See below)   Why Do We Count the ‘Omer? In this week’s reading, the Torah commands the people of Israel to bring the first sheaf (‘omer) …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Readings, (in Israel) Kedoshim, (outside Israel), Aharei Mot May 4, 2019

Weekly Torah Readings, (in Israel) Kedoshim, May 4, 2019  (for outside Israel, Aḥarei Mot, —see below)   Like Yourself   No doubt the most famous verse in this week’s reading, Kedoshim, is Lev 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor like …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Seventh Day of Passover, April 26, 2019

Two Great Songs The reading for the Seventh Day features the Song of the Sea—the song that the Israelites sang after their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15). Actually, this same song is recited every day as part …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Passover, April 20, 2019

Some Pointers for the Seder   In case you missed these last week, here again are some of my annual tips for the first night of Passover:   Reclining   The whole reason for having a Passover seder is to …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Shabbat ha-Gadol, April 13, 2019

Some Pointers for the Seder Here are some of my annual tips for the first night of Passover:   Reclining   The whole reason for having a Passover seder is to carry out the Torah’s commandment, “And you shall tell …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Tazri‘a, April 6, 2019

The Handoff   In addition to the regular weekly reading (Tazri‘a), this Shabbat includes a special reading, since it is Shabbat ha-Ḥodesh, the Shabbat that falls before or on the first day of the month of Nisan. The special reading …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Shemini, March 30, 2019

Our Religious Leaders   Why were Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, struck dead in the desert tabernacle (mishkan)? Everything was all set for the inauguration of regular sacrificial worship in the mishkan, and then this tragedy—why?   The Torah …

Read More »

The Crucial Vav; Some Thoughts about Purim

Third-Wave Feminists, Opponents of the Death Penalty, the “Ban Sugar in Schools” Movement, Esperantists, Religious Inclusivists and Other Internationalists of Various Allegiances—poor old Purim has a pack of enemies gunning for her in this holy Jewish year of 5779. And …

Read More »