by katie@betalef.org | May 26, 2021 | Torah Reflections
B’haalot’cha: Numbers 8:1 – 12:16 “The I of The Storm” Like many times before in the Exodus narrative, the Hebrews are, once again, rebelling against Moses and complaining about their current condition. This time, the wilderness’...
by katie@betalef.org | May 19, 2021 | Torah Reflections
Naso: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89 “True Blessing” In our Torah reading this week we happen upon one of the central blessings of our tradition; the Priestly Blessing. And the Eternal spoke to Moses, saying; Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying; Thus...
by katie@betalef.org | May 13, 2021 | Torah Reflections
B’Midbar: Numbers 1:1 – 4:20 “E Pluribus Unum” It is no big secret that the Jewish home is a divided one. The events of this week in Israel and Palestine have been, among other things, an additional blow to the lost unity of our people....
by katie@betalef.org | Apr 22, 2021 | Torah Reflections
Acharei Mot – Kedoshim: Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30 “Drawing Near Through Generosity” There is an interesting passage in this week’s double Torah portion that caught my eye this time around. God, through Moses, asks the Israelites to only...
by katie@betalef.org | Apr 13, 2021 | Torah Reflections
Tazria – Metzora: Leviticus 12:1 – 13:51 “Sin is a Divine Gift” Our weekly Torah reading begins laying out spiritual practices connected to human birth: “Ishah ki tazria… – When a woman conceives…” [Lev. 12:2] In his commentary on these...
by katie@betalef.org | Apr 8, 2021 | Torah Reflections
Sh’mini, Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 “What is God’s Will for Me?” Growing up, I always had difficulties, with the concept of “doing God’s will” that my rabbis often spoke of. Somehow, I was supposed to do “God’s will” in all my daily...
