Refuting the “Binding” Oral Law – Part II
V. If we reject the first argument for a divine Oral Law that was given to Moses from God we are left with the definition of an Oral Law that came from the rabbis of old. The rabbis who contributed…
Parsha Tazria-Metzora
This week’s parsha is Tazria-Metzora: Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Tazria (12:1-13:59) – (She Conceives): Haftorah: II Kings 4:42-5:19 (Ashkenazi); II Kings 4:42-5:19 (Sephardi) 12:1-2: Human contamination 13:24-28: Burns 12:3-8: Childbirth and purification 13:29-39: Tzaraas of the head or face 13:1-3: The basic…
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…
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