Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Korach (Corah) Torah b’midbar 16:1 – 18:41 “40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to Elohekam. 41 I am Avinu Elohekam, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be Elohekam: I am Avinu Elohekam."” (Nu 15:40-41 ) When we read, “We are commanded “to remember and do..” that we might be “…holy to..” puts pressure on us to perform certain instructions in order to maintain our individual “holiness before Avinu”. The tasks that … [Read more...] about Holiness
Articles
Limited Grace?
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Shlach Lecha – send for yourself Torah: B’midbar 13:1 – 15:43 “A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he will not give heed.” (Pr 29:19) ** Most of humanity isn’t motivated by “words” to make significant, permanent changes in their behavior. A lot of those same people are completely dependent on an unlimited source of “cheap grace”. “Cheap Grace” is the belief that one can be forgiven multiple times for the same negative … [Read more...] about Limited Grace?
The Sodah
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Naso "Elevate (the head)' Torah: B’mid’bar 4:21 - 7:89 ** This passage deals with a very unusual situation. The Torah teaches: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (De 19:15) … [Read more...] about The Sodah
Rosh Chodesh Sivan
At sundown, the end of Monday, 6/3/19, the month of Iyar comes to its end and Rosh Chodesh Sivan begins. Rosh Chodesh is not a prescribed monthly Shabbat but it is commanded to be “observed”. In 1Samuel 20, we see that particular Rosh Chodesh was being observed for two days . Some use this recorded biblical event as proof that the current calendar based method of determining the arrival of Rosh Chodesh today was in use earlier than the construction of the first Temple. This two day observance … [Read more...] about Rosh Chodesh Sivan
Changing The Priesthood
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: B’Mid’bar In the wilderness Torah: B’mid’bar (numbers) 1:1 – 4:20 “22 And you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus said Avinu, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23 And I say to you, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, even your firstborn.” (Ex 4:22-23 ) “Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” (Ex 13:2 … [Read more...] about Changing The Priesthood
The Torah and Human Sacrifice
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: B’Chukkotay in My statutesTorah: V’Ikra 26:3 – 27:34 The Scriptures are replete with stories of humanity dying by the hand of another human being. There are some who believe that the Scriptures speak of human sacrifices that were commanded by Avinu. Here is one of the better known passages that a neophyte might “assume” to lead to a human being put to death to satisfy Avinu’s command. … [Read more...] about The Torah and Human Sacrifice