The annual cycle of Torah readings is traditionally split into 53 portions. Here’s what I’ve written (and sometimes composed) in relation to some of those portions. 7 Vayeitzei Jacob’s ladder – dreaming awake (Jacob #1) Jacob and Lavan – learning to make a good ending (Jacob #2) 8 Vayishlach Wrestling at Yabbok – doing the […]
Parshot – Divrei Torah Read More »
<< Previous post in the Jacob series: #3 Wrestling at Yabbok – doing the inner work There are four episodes close together in Jacob’s life that can tell us something about the nature of his—and our—spiritual journey. I’ve been reading—and writing about—these four episodes through the lens of Four-Worlds consciousness, as taught in kabbalah: Assiyah,
Jacob meets Esau – putting God at the centre (Jacob #4) Read More »
<< Previous post in the Jacob series: #2 Jacob and Lavan – learning to make a good ending Coming soon. >> Next in the Jacob series: #4 Jacob meets Esau – putting God at the centre
Wrestling at Yabbok – doing the inner work (Jacob #3) Read More »
<< Previous post in the Jacob series: #1 Jacob’s ladder – dreaming awake Running away is not a solution In my commentary on the ladder dream (Jacob #1), we’ve seen Jacob go through an important spiritual transformation using Four-Worlds consciousness. But that’s not the end of his spiritual journey, only one stage in it. Jacob’s spiritual
Jacob and Lavan – learning to make a good ending (Jacob #2) Read More »
The ‘Jacob series’ There are four episodes close together in Jacob’s life that can tell us something about his—and our—spiritual journey. The awakening that Jacob experiences in his ‘ladder dream’ (the subject of this post) fortifies him for his challenging face-off with Lavan (Jacob #2), which helps prepare him for the inner work he will
Jacob’s ladder – dreaming awake (Jacob #1) Read More »
The Sages asked how, although Moses wrote the whole Torah, he could have written the final 8 verses after his death (Bava Batra 15a). R’ Avraham David of Buczacz (18th century) suggested a solution to this problem by saying that the final verses of Deuteronomy we can read now were constructed mystically from the same
Moses – an imagined alternative ending Read More »
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 »
YouTube version. Better recording coming soon. In the meantime, here is the sheet music (free). Music and audio © Alexander Massey 24 August 2021
Baruch Atah, B’ruchah At (Blessed Shall You Be) Read More »
Music and audio © Alexander Massey 1 May 2017 These words, based on 2 Samuel 10:11, are traditionally spoken as we finish reading a book of the Torah. They can be translated: “Be strong, be strong, and we shall be strong!” The first half is in the singular, and the second half is in the
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 16 Feb 2017: V’asu li mikdash v’shochanti b’tocham. Recording with English words: “We’ll make You a holy home, and You will live with us.” BUY the sheet music (2 vces & pno) – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) The sheet music is also available for purchase as part of
V’asu Li Mikdash and the ‘holiness project’ Read More »