Sukkot: The Season of Our Joy
The Torah reading for the Shabbat of Sukkot (Exodus 33:12–34:26) includes the reconciliation between God and Moses following the Golden Calf, the inscription of the second set of the Ten Commandments, and the verbal covenant that accompanies this second giving.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry – Even in a Pandemic
Aligned with the rhythm of our earth turning on its axis, our season of returning (
Holy Place, Holy Responsibility, Holy Acts
Parashat R'eih contains a remarkable richness of diverse biblical materials. It opens with the "blessing and curse" that God sets before the people, based on their choice of following or disobeying the commandments (Deuteronomy 11:26–32).
Seeing is Believing
Overview
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God places both blessing and curse before the Israelites. They are taught that blessing will come through the observance of God’s laws. (11:26–32)
Entering the Void
PARASHAH OVERVIEW
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Moses sings his last song, a love poem to God and a chastisement of the people, who are not worthy of Adonai. (32:1-6)
Cities of Refuge
Several years ago I read an article by Jared Diamond in The New Yorker Magazine1 about the experiences of a young man in the New Guinea Highlands in trying to fulfill the obligation placed upon him by his community as the
God as Matchmaker
With so many matchmaking and online dating services, it's no surprise that people are looking for love, but as a recent Pew study1 shows, their search results in marriage less and less often. That's because relationships of any kind are seldom easy.
Hearing with the Third Ear
Haazinu contains a lengthy poem that comprises almost this whole sidrah. It is part of a speech that Moses shares with our people before we enter the Promised Land. The poem declares God's majesty, power, presence, and capacity to forgive.