http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php Type description here... en-us Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:38:05 -0700 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:38:05 -0700 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Pesach I "Passover” As it is now Passover week, each day has its own specific parasha study portion. Today’s is from Exodus 12. This Saturday, the Sabbath, will have its special reading from Exodus 33.12-34.26. I will share a few comments about this portion. Shemot 33.12-14 states: Moshe said to ADONAI, "Look, you say to me, ‘Make these people move on!’ But you haven’t let me know whom you will be sending with me. Nevertheless you ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1364967485 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1364967485&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1364967485 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:38:05 -0700 Vayikra "and He called” This week we begin studying the book of Leviticus. Our first study portion is called "Vayikra” ("And He called”), taken from the first words of the book, "And God called to Moses…”. This book is sometimes called "The Book of the Priests”, since it lays out a good portion of the role of the "kohens”, that is, the priests of Israel. As the book opens, we see the instructions of God to ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1364447326 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1364447326&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1364447326 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:08:46 -0700 Vayakhel-Pekuday "and he gathered” Today’s parasha is a "double portion”, that is, two portions combined together, in order to help us arrive at the correct scripture readings for Passover, which occurs on the evening of March 25 th . Our portion is entitled "Vayakhel-Pekuday” (spanning Exodus 35.1-40.38). "Vayakhel” means "and he gathered”, from the 1 st verse of our Torah portion, ‘And Moshe gathered all the assembly of Israel…’. Pekuday means "commandments of”. The theme of our parasha revolves ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362974457 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362974457&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362974457 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:00:57 -0700 1 Megillat Esther "Scroll of Esther” Our Parasha (Tetzaveh "you will instruct” and our Megillah As a nation, on Saturday night, and in Jerusalem on Sunday night, we read through the book of Esther, called the Megillah ("the scroll”) in Hebrew. I had written some comments on our parasha for this newsletter, but as I began to write about the book of Esther, I couldn’t stop. So that is what we have this week: just ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362973565 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362973565&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362973565 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:46:05 -0700 Terumah "Offerings” The Torah portion for today is "Terumah” ("Offerings”). It is Exodus 25.1-27.19. Our section from the Prophets today is 1 Kings 5.26-6.13, and it is from there that we will share today: "So Adonai gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He said to him. And there was shalom between Hiram and Solomon; so they made a covenant between the two of them” (25.26, my translation). The place where God promised to give Solomon great ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1361441927 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1361441927&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1361441927 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:18:47 -0700 Mishpatim "Rulings” This Sabbath’s reading is "Mishpatim” (Rulings ) , consisting of Exodus 21.1-24.18. I would define the word mishpatim as ‘ instructions and judgments that have a Heavenly source, and a strong logical base to them’ . This word can have other meanings in other contexts. But in our parasha, we are looking at instructions given by God that expressed what His righteous society would look like. Today’s parasha emphasizes creating proper relationships between people. By "proper” I mean ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1360478044 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1360478044&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1360478044 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:34:04 -0700 Yitro "Jethro” This Sabbath, we study the portion of scripture entitled "Yitro” (Jethro), which is Exodus 18.1-20.23. It is an exciting portion, as we read about the re-uniting of Moses’ family, and the great wisdom by which Moses’ father-in-law helped him and all of Israel: "So Yitro, father-in-law of Moshe, came with the two sons and wife of Moshe, to the wilderness where he (Moshe) was encamped. Right there was the mountain of God. Then he ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1360477015 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1360477015&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1360477015 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:16:55 -0700 B’shelach "in sending” This Sabbath’s parasha is entitled "B’shelach” ("in sending”, as in "Pharaoh sent Israel away”, and is Exodus 13.17-17.16). It’s an action packed parasha, as it describes just how God delivered Israel from the murderous Pharaoh. In Exodus 13.17-22, we read about Israel’s "trip” into the Sinai peninsula. Many scholars estimate that 2 million Jewish people took part in the Exodus. Verse 17 notes: "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1359343674 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1359343674&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1359343674 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:30:44 -0700 Megillat Esther "Scroll of Esther” Our Parasha (Tetzaveh "you will instruct” and our Megillah As a nation, on Saturday night, and in Jerusalem on Sunday night, we read through the book of Esther, called the Megillah ("the scroll”) in Hebrew. I had written some comments on our parasha for this newsletter, but as I began to write about the book of Esther, I couldn’t stop. So that is what we have this week: just a few ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362971796 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362971796&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1362971796 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:16:36 -0700 Va’era "I appeared” This Sabbath, we read the parasha entitled Va’era, "I appeared”, which is Exodus 6.2-9.35. As I read the text, I tried to put myself into (Moses) Moshe’s shoes. Doing this (well, as much as it can be done) makes us see the difficult problems that Moshe faced. One of them seemed similar to what we can face today, as well. Let me explain. Moshe was told to announce to his own people that ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1358389426 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1358389426&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1358389426 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:23:46 -0700 Shemot "These are the Names...” Today’s parasha portion is Shemot, which is the Hebrew name for the book of Exodus, and with it we begin studying the book of Exodus, chapters 1.1-6.1. This is a large portion for one week’s study, but it does get the narrative going, "firing on all of its cylinders”. This well-known story gives me encouragement, particular given what we share about our trip below. Israel, with her covenant promises, was encountered ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1357883879 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1357883879&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1357883879 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:57:59 -0700 Miketz "at the end of” This week’s parasha reading is entitled ‘Miketz’, meaning ‘at the end of [two full years]…’, and consists of Genesis 41.1-44.17. It is one of the most heart-rending parts of the Bible. Our highlight is when Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers, and finds out more information about his estranged but beloved father, Israel. It is here where we powerfully see that although God did not interfere with the family’s ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1355800988 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1355800988&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1355800988 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:23:08 -0700 Vayeshev "and He lived” Today’s Torah portion is "Vayeshev” ("And he lived”), comprising Genesis 37.1-40.23. It is a portion in which there is a lot going on underneath the surface. We encounter God working in history, while doing so through the complicated and even quite painful dynamics of His chosen family’s life. I have previously mentioned how the language of the opening verses is a puzzle: " This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1355211470 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1355211470&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1355211470 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:37:50 -0700 VaYishlach "and He sent” Today we will study "VaYishlach”, (and He sent), which is Genesis 32.3-36.43. While reading our portion this week, I was impressed with the courage of Jacob. He recognized that he would have to risk everything: his family, his wealth and their very lives, to enter the region where the promises of God waited fulfillment for him. Yet he agreed never to return to the land of Laban, where he had just been for ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1354836896 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1354836896&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1354836896 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:34:56 -0700 Chayei Sarah "The Life of Sarah” This Sabbath’s parasha portion is entitled "Chayei Sarah”, and consists of Genesis 23.1-25.18. Our reading begins with the death of Sarah, but focuses on the way in which a wife was found for Abraham and Sarah’s special son, Isaac. We can understand what a crucial choice this wife would be, in the day and age when parents arranged marriages between families. Isaac did not choose a wife for himself. He ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1354131964 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1354131964&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1354131964 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:49:50 -0700 Lech Lecha "Go Already” Today’s parasha is "Lek leka” ("Get up and get going!!”), and is Genesis 12:1-17:27. This portion begins by describing the journey of Abraham’s family from the Chaldean region into the Land of Israel. Earlier (Genesis 11:31) we learned that Abraham’s clan migrated, led by the decision of the family patriarch&nbsp;Terach, who was a father, father-in-law and grandfather at that time. Scripture is silent as to why Terach took the family out ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1352017660 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1352017660&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1352017660 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:46:57 -0700 Noach "Noah” Our Parasha—Who Will Stand Up? Our scripture portion is called "Noach” (Noah), and is Genesis 6:9-11:32. What strikes me about the parasha is the character of Noah. We tend to think of him as not such a righteous man because he got drunk once, after the tremendous stress of mankind being destroyed, and being confined on a ship for quite a while. But here is how the scriptures describe Noah: " a scrupulous keeper of ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1351026818 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1351026818&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1351026818 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:13:38 -0700 Ha’azinu "Pay Attention, Listen up” Parasha Ha’azinu ("Pay attention”; "Listen up”, Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 ) is one of the most difficult ones for me to face every year. It is a song that was memorized and recited to call the nation to turn from any wayward attitudes. Its message is that we must rededicate ourselves to serving God as a people. It comes up in our parasha cycle during the High Holydays, when the theme of turning back ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1349162089 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1349162089&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1349162089 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:20:12 -0700 Vayelek "So he went” Today’s scripture portion is "Vayelek” (So he went), and is Deuteronomy 31.1-31.30. At first glance, this would appear to be a very short parasha portion; but it is rich in what it teaches us. While reading this portion today, I was struck by one verse which described the role of the priests: So Moses wrote down these instructions, and gave them to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1348384902 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1348384902&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1348384902 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:21:34 -0700 Ki Tetze "You will go out” Parasha "Ki Tetze” is today’s portion of scripture, running from Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19. While reading through it this week, I was impressed with how all of the instructions given built a sense of communal responsibility. We have a saying in Jewish rabbinic literature: "All Israel is responsible one for another”. Today’s parasha is a good reminder of such. It was no accident that this emphasis appears at this point in Moses’ ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346642537 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346642537&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346642537 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 20:22:17 -0700 Shoftim "Judges” Today’s scripture portion is entitled "Shoftim” (Judges), and is Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9. It details how the people wanted to be like the other nations, to have the right to choose a king to rule them. On the surface, what could be wrong with that? It would unite the 12 tribes, and would give them a unified army, and a simpler political structure. Sound good? Well, suffice it to say it was a poor choice in ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346644282 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346644282&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346644282 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 20:51:22 -0700 Re’eh "Look” Today’s portion of scripture is entitled "Re’eh” (Look!). It is Deuteronomy 11.26-16.17, making it a rather large parasha, a big section of the Bible. But what struck me as I read through it was that God was crystal clear with His intentions. He verbally told the nation what choices they had, and what the consequences would be for each choice. On top of that, He also had the people physically illustrate all of this: ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346641673 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346641673&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1346641673 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 20:07:53 -0700 Va’etchanan "Then I pleaded” We continue on in the book of Deuteronomy in this parasha, which again is a summary of the 40 years traveling the Sinai, with its lessons, punctuated with exhortations to love God and keep His instructions in the homeland that they were about to enter. In our text, a single verse stood out to me as I studied it this week: " Do not add to what I command you and do not ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1344049928 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1344049928&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1344049928 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:12:08 -0700 Devarim "These Things” This Sabbath’s parasha portion is entitled "Devarim” (the name of the book of Deuteronomy). We study Deuteronomy 1.1-3.22. As I mention every year, the book of Deuteronomy is a retelling of the prior 40 years’, and a second time teaching the lessons learned while traveling through the Sinai. Scholars consider this book to be akin to being Israel’s national constitution (we have no constitution in modern day Israel, partly due to this fact). ...<br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1343625861 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1343625861&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1343625861 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 22:24:21 -0700 Pinchas (the grandson of Aaron) is the name of our scripture portion this week, consisting of Numbers 25.10-30.1 . &nbsp;By the time the&nbsp;incidents of this narrative occurred, something that is attentiongrabbing had happened. We all remember how in the book of Exodus, there was a Midianite clan chieftain named Jethro, who became father-in-law to Moses. As a Midianite, he was genuinely happy with Israel’s successes: "J ethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342340886 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342340886&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342340886 Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:28:06 -0700 Chukat "Instructions” This Shabbat, we study "Chukat” (an "instruction that was given by God” ), which is Numbers 19.1-22.1. Let’s remember that the book of Numbers is a record of God’s dealings, and the lessons that He taught the people of Israel during the time spent in the Sinai wilderness. A rather troubling incident occurs in this week’s parasha portion. Moses is denied entrance into Israel due to the event that happened at a place named "meriva”, hD$byi&#770;rVm ...<br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044819 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044819&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044819 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:13:39 -0700 Bhe’alotka "in your going up” This week’s parasha is Bhe’alotka ("in your going up”), and is Numbers 8.1-12.16.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;In the original Hebrew text of today’s parasha, a really strange phenomenon occurs. It really grabs the eye of the reader. Verses 10.35-36 state this: "Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,"Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.” Whenever it came to rest, he said,"Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands ... <br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044608 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044608&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044608 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:10:08 -0700 Our parasha Naso ["Lift up”] is the name of our Torah portion. It is Numbers 4.21-7.89. For me, the book of Numbers is a history that is given to us with a purpose, which is to educate Israel; and through Israel, then to educate the world, throughout all time, about Who God is and how to live for His purposes. &nbsp; In our text, I was impressed this year by the following verses: The LORD said to Moses,&nbsp; ...<br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044311 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044311&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1342044311 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:05:11 -0700 Today we have another "double portion” (two parashot portions rolled into one), entitled "Acharey-Kedoshim”, being Leviticus 16.1-20.27. This is a very important parasha in many ways. Let me address why it carries great importance. In this portion, we are given many legal instructions that have to do with how God saw fit to build Israel’s society. In this parasha, we find the "Father Instruction”, termed in Hebrew the "av” (which means "father”). An "av” in ...<br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1336600646 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1336600646&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1336600646 Wed, 09 May 2012 14:57:26 -0700 Tazria-Metzora&nbsp; "Bodily Issues/Skin Diseases” Today’s parasha is Tazria-Metzora ("bodily issues-skin diseases”, Leviticus 12:1-15:33). I should be an expert on the skin disease portion of our text after this winter’s struggle that I had, but thanks to God, I am well again! The skin around my eyes has returned to looking and feeling normal. Our parasha deals with when and how a person gets ritually cleansed from "niddah” (Hebrew for ‘a state of ritual impurity’). In such a ...<br clear="all"> http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1336600871 Rabbi David Friedman http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1336600871&comments=comments http://www.levhashem.org/documents/blog_1.php?entry_id=1336600871 Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:11 -0700