Parshot – Divrei Torah – Alexander Massey

The annual cycle of Torah readings is traditionally split into 54 portions, as well as special readings for Festivals and Fasts. Here’s what I’ve written (and sometimes composed) in relation to some of those readings.

2 Noach – Moving beyond binaries
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 inner work (Jacob #3)
- Jacob meets Esau – putting God at the centre (Jacob #4)
- Jacob wrestles and becomes himself
10 Miketz – Dreams, Chanukah and Human Rights
14 Vaera – The ten plagues of … Israel
15 Bo – The ten plagues of … Israel [con’td]
16 Beshallach – God of Now
19 Terumah – V’asu Li Mikdash and the ‘holiness project’
21 Ki Tisa – “Let me see Your glory!” Davenen through the Four Worlds
25 Tzav
- All are honoured, no one goes without
- Pesach and the aish tamid / continuous fire
26 Sh’mini – The Birds Clause
27 Tazria-Metzora – The three holy garments, and the personal touch
30 Kedoshim – How can we ‘be holy’?
32 Behar – Bringing God into the world, making the whole world holy
36 B’ha’alotcha
- The vocation of the ba’al t’fillah (prayer leader)
- A story about allyship
37 Sh’lach Lecha
- Love and Follow (Sh’ma #2)
- Seven triptychs on the Sh’ma
45 Va’etchanan
- Listen and Love (Sh’ma #1)
- Seven triptychs on the Sh’ma
46 Eikev
- Listen and Love [cont’d] (Sh’ma #1)
- Seven triptychs on the Sh’ma
50 Ki Tavo – Being deployed by God
54 V’zot Hab’rachah – Moses – an imagined alternative ending
Other holy days
- Pesach
  - “Let me see Your glory!” Davenen through the Four Worlds
  - Pesach and the aish tamid / continuous fire
- Shavuot – Trees, Arks and Torah
- Kol Nidrei – Kol Nidrei Paradox
- Chanukah