Introduction before leyning Chapter 15 of Exodus Today is Shabbat Shirah—the shabbat of song, because it’s the week when we read Shirat Hayam—the Song of the Sea, the story of when the Israelites escaped through the miraculously parted sea, while behind them, Pharoah, his army, and their horses drowned. Moses and Miriam led the Israelites […]
Beshallach 5784 – God of now Read More »
Context In the previous parsha (Vayeshev), we have met Joseph with his multi-coloured robe, the envious brothers who sell him into slavery, and learn of their wicked deception of their father Jacob. In an interlude we hear of Tamar’s righteous deception of Judah. Returning to Joseph, after his swift rise to success in Egypt, Potiphar’s
Miketz 5776 – Dreams, Chanukah & Human Rights Read More »
Lev. 19:1-20:7 The portion Kedoshim begins: “And G-d spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation …” So this is an ideal opportunity to consider what Moses was told to share with us as a community. Kedoshim tih’yu – ‘you shall be holy’, or, more literally, as kedoshim is plural, ‘you shall be holinesses’,
Kedoshim 5774 – How can we ‘be holy’? Read More »
Tazria-Metzora (Lev 12:1-15:33) Thought, word and deed As my own personal response to a section of Torah that I find difficult to relate to in modern times, I have been looking at Tazria-Metzora through the lens of a traditional, but unrelated, teaching I learned from Rabbi Zalman Shachter-Shalomi1 (ZT”L), the founder of the 20th century Jewish
Tazria-Metzora 5773 – The three holy garments, and the personal touch Read More »
In 2012, I attended the inaugural prayer leaders’ retreat of the European Academy of Jewish Liturgy (EAJL), led by Chazan Jaclyn Chernett, Chazan Jack Kessler, Rabbi Marcia Prager, and Chazan Jalda Rebling. I was asked to lead a tisch on the Friday night, and these are the questions and resources that I created for that,
Beha’alotcha 5772 – The vocation of the ba’al tefillah (prayer leader) Read More »
What’s in a name? Jacob wrestling at Yabok (Gen 32:23-33) Today’s story can say something, I think, to everyone, because it is about an ish tam, a simple, normal man, an average person, Jacob, in a normal family, that is to say, a dysfunctional one. If there’s anybody here who isn’t from a dysfunctional family, please
Vayishlach 5772 – Jacob wrestles, and becomes himself Read More »