by RabbiOlivier | Sep 12, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8 Let Your Heart Crack Open This week’s Torah portion begins: When you enter the land that the Eternal your God is giving your as a heritage, and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of every fruit of the...
by RabbiOlivier | Sep 5, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 Wrestling With The Uncomfortable Each year, when I meet Ki Teitzei — this week’s Torah portion — I come to realize again why so many people are moved to altogether abandon any kind of religious pursuit....
by RabbiOlivier | Aug 29, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Shof’tim Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 The Healing Power of Self-Awareness This week marks the beginning of the month of Elul, the last month of the Jewish year. Less than 29 days separate us from Rosh HaShanah, New Year’s Day. Elul is a month of...
by RabbiOlivier | Aug 25, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Re’eh Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17 Waking up From Our Collective Amnesia See! I place before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing, that you listen to the mitzvot of the Eternal your God, that I enjoin upon you today; and the curse if you do not...
by RabbiOlivier | Jul 11, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Pinchas Numbers 25:10 – 30:1 The Mount of Transitions As we are nearing the end of the Book of Numbers, and therefore the end of the Exodus narrative — which will be retold by Moses in the last book of Deuteronomy — this week’s Torah portion...
by RabbiOlivier | Jul 6, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Balak Numbers 22:2 – 25:9 We Are Not in Control This week’s Torah portion retells one of the most peculiar stories in Torah; that of Balaam and his donkey. Balaam is a professional curser hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the...
