by katie@betalef.org | Oct 16, 2019 | Torah Reflections
Kabbalistic Digging: V’Zot HaBrachah V’Zot HaBrachah: Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12 Several Chasidic Masters associate Moses with the Sephirah of Da’at of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. The Sephirah of Da’at is known as the hidden Sephirah, situated as the...
by katie@betalef.org | Sep 27, 2019 | Torah Reflections
How To Find God: Nitzavim Nitzavim: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 The three letters, tzadi, vav, vav, form the root of the word Mitzvah, usually translated as “commandment.” Yet the Hebrew, or the Aramaic in this case, has much more granularity than a one-word translation...
by katie@betalef.org | Sep 19, 2019 | Torah Reflections
Let Your Heart Crack Open: Ki Tavo Ki Tavo: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 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...
by katie@betalef.org | Sep 12, 2019 | Torah Reflections
Wrestling With The Uncomfortable: Ki Teitzei Ki Teitzei: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 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. Though we find...
by katie@betalef.org | Sep 5, 2019 | Torah Reflections
The Unexamined Life: Shoftim Shoftim: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 In the middle of this week’s Torah portion is one of the pithiest yet most powerful verses: “Tamim tih’yeh im YHVH Eloheicha – Be whole with the Eternal One your God.” [Deut. 18:13] We have noted...
by katie@betalef.org | Aug 30, 2019 | Torah Reflections
Waking up from Our Collective Amnesia: Re’eh Re’eh: Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 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 listen to...
