by RabbiOlivier | May 5, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Emor Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 Knowing God vs. Playing God The beginning verses in this week’s Torah portion are rather challenging to our current understanding of spirituality. They define an impossibly strict code of holiness for the priestly caste....
by RabbiOlivier | May 5, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
K’doshim Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27 A Holiness Code For Tomorrow This week’s Torah portion continues to describe what started in our last portion, what is known as the Holiness Code, which will span the rest of Leviticus. This Holiness Code is a...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
A Connection Through Time Sunday is coming to a close, and tomorrow night is the first night of Passover. I just finished cleaning our house and I can’t imagine there could be any chametz anywhere. Chametz is the Hebrew word that stands for all leavened...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
The Kabbalah of Passover A few years ago, at our annual Bet Alef Community Seder, I shared with those in attendance — members and non-members alike — a tradition that has been in my family for, I suspect, many generations. Growing up, I remember...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Holidays, Torah Reflections
Preparing for Passover #1 Mah Nish’tanah? What Has Changed? This is the time of the year, personally, when I delight in re-opening the Passover Haggadah and in looking inside for more treasures to be revealed. Four years ago I compiled a new version of the...
by RabbiOlivier | Apr 21, 2014 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
M’tzorah Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33 Connecting Near-East & Far East This week’s Torah portion is, admittedly, a challenge to our modern sensibilities. This portion talks about tzara’at, a skin affliction most translators define as leprosy;...
