Refuting the “Binding” Oral Law – Part I
When I began my journey into Judaism many years ago I was skeptical of the so-called “Oral Law” or “Oral Torah.” However, as I plunged head first into my life as a soon-to-be Jew I began to take on the…
Jen (Rachel-Esther)
Parsha Shemini
This week’s parsha is Shemini: Leviticus 9:1-11:47 Shemini (9:1-11:47) – (Eighth): Haftorah: II Samuel 6:1-7:17 (Ashkenazi); II Samuel 6:1-19 (Sephardi) 9:1-21: The Priestly service begins 11:13-19: The forbidden birds 9:22-24: Aaron’s blessing and the Divine Presence 11:20-25: Forbidden and permissible…
Chag HaMatzot (Passover)
This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year. (Exodus 12:2) The first mitzvah (command) given by the Eternal One to Moshe and Aharon was…
Parsha Tzav
This week’s parsha is Tzav: Leviticus 6:1-8:36 6:1-4: The taking of the ash and the Altar fire 7:19-21: Eating in a state of contamination 6:5-6: The three Altar fires 7:22-27: Fat and blood 6:7-16: Meal offering, Sin offering 7:28-38: The…
Parsha Vayikra
This week’s parsha is Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1-5:26 1:1-9: General rules of offerings 4:3-12: The bull of the anointed Kohen 1:10-13: Burnt offerings from sheep and goats 4:13-21: The bull 1:14-17: Burnt offerings from fowl 4:22-26: He-goat of a ruler 2:1-3:…
Judaism 101: What is the Mishneh Torah
The Mishneh Torah (“Repetition of the Torah”) subtitled Sefer Yad HaHazaka (“Book of the Strong Hand,”) is a code of Rabbinic halakhah (Jewish religious law) authored by Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, also known as RaMBaM or “Rambam”), one of…
Parsha Vayakhel-Pekudei
This week’s (double) parsha is Vayakhel-Pekudei: Exodus 35:1-40:38 This week’s Haftarah is: Ezekiel 36:16-38 D’var Torah: Sanctifying Time and Space, Shabbat, and the Building of the Mishkan Torah Pearls: Parsha Vayakhel–Pekudei
Parsha Ki Tisa
This week’s parsha is Ki Tisa: Exodus 30:11-34:35 D’var Torah: Shabbat: Positives and Negatives Torah Pearls: Parsha Ki Tisa This week’s Haftarah is: I Kings 31:18-33:11
Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress
Purim (5775/2015)
Purim (which means lots) is a post-Biblical celebration that occurs on 14 Adar (in February or March). Purim is one-day holiday in Rabbinic tradition and a two-day holiday in Karaite tradition. Purim celebrates the victory of Esther and Mordechai over…