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…
Tag Judaism
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 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:…
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
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…
Parsha Terumah
This week’s parsha is Terumah: Exodus 25:1-27:19 D’var Torah: A Place for God to Dwell Torah Pearls: Parsha Terumah This week’s Haftarah is: I Kings 5:26-6:13
Judaism 101: What is the Talmud? (Part II)
The Mishnah is a compilation of legal opinions and debates. Statements in the Mishnah are typically terse, recording brief opinions of the rabbis debating a subject; or recording only an unattributed ruling, apparently representing a consensus view. The rabbis recorded…
Judaism 101: What is the Talmud? (Part I)
The Talmud (“instruction, learning”) is a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. It is also traditionally referred to as Shas, a Hebrew abbreviation of shisha sedarim, the “six orders”. The Talmud has two components. The first part is the Mishnah, the…