The best books are the ones with pictures, especially Haggadot. One of our family’s favorite Seder traditions is comparing the pictures or drawings of the Four Children. Some of the Haggadot we use have collections of drawings and artistic images depicting the wise, rebellious, simple and unable-to-ask children. The agenda and biases of a particular artist or editor can Continue Reading »
For the next couple of weeks, our Torah reading will attest to an ancient fascination, maybe even an obsession, with ritual purity–the Hebrew terms being tohorah and tumah. We see it this week in Parshat Tazria’, first in the context of childbirth, and then at length in terms of dermatological conditions. There’s something profoundly egalitarian about these laws, archaic Continue Reading »
This has been a painful and traumatic week for our entire community, as we are left reeling by the tragic passing of our rabbi and teacher, Rabbi Kessler. In my eulogy on Tuesday morning, I referenced the story from this week’s Torah reading, Parshat Shemini, of the sudden deaths of Nadav and Avihu, Aharon’s two Continue Reading »
This is the fourth year that we have spent the Shabbat prior to Purim studying a chapter of Megillat Ester at a lunch and learn, so by my count we should be on chapter 4. I enjoy this annual tradition because while we read the megillah every year, and we think we know the story of Purim well, many Continue Reading »
For the fifth Shabbat in a row, our Torah reading features the details of the building of the Mishkan. It is as if the house committee has monopolized the agenda of five consecutive board meetings! I can imagine the complaints from the hesed, ritual and education committees: “What about our reports? Isn’t there more to this space Continue Reading »
Some of the best narratives are the ones where no one comes out looking good. House of Cards was certainly one of those stories full of entirely unsympathetic characters. It’s possible to read the Golden Calf narrative the same way. Aharon (weak leader) loses control of an impatient Israelite community (ingrates). Moshe has to talk a hypersensitive Continue Reading »
The instruction manual for the building of the mishkan occupies the majority of our Torah readings for the next two weeks. Although one doesn’t usual find great moral guidance in instruction manuals, the brilliance of our interpretative tradition is its ability to find meaning in even the materials and measurements. For example, consider what this week’s portion, Terumah, Continue Reading »
As he learns that Ya’akov is ill, Yosef rushes to his father’s bedside, bringing along his sons Menashe and Ephraim. When Yosef arrives, Ya’akov sits up in bed and launches into a rather long speech, especially considering that he is apparently gravely ill. Here is that speech in its entirety: “El Shaddai appeared to Continue Reading »
If I told you that on the first night of Hanukkah, I light eight candles, and seven on the second night, and so on until the final night, when I light one candle, what would you say to me? If you were to say to me that I’m doing it wrong, you would be correct. Continue Reading »
In last week’s Torah reading, our People received our Biblical ethnic identity. Once Ya’akov’s name was changed to Yisrael, the scene was set for us to become his descendants, B’nai Yisrael. But this week, the wheels are set in motion for us to become Yehudim, Jews. We derive our religious, cultural and ethnic moniker from only one Continue Reading »
