by katie@betalef.org | Feb 7, 2023 | Torah Reflections
Yitro: Exodus 18:1 – 20:23 “It Begins with the Tenth Commandment” The centerpiece of Parashat Yitro is the theophany at Sinai and the gift of the Ten Commandments, the Ten Utterances. On the surface these utterances may appear merely as rules,...
by katie@betalef.org | Feb 1, 2023 | Torah Reflections
B’Shalach: Exodus 13:17 – 17:16 “Why Did They Have to Drown?” The Song at The Sea with its archaic Hebrew style—when compared with the rest of Torah—is probably the most ancient text in the entire Jewish canon. It describes Moses and the...
by katie@betalef.org | Jan 24, 2023 | Torah Reflections
Bo: Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 “From Pharaoh’s Slaves to God’s Slaves” There is a peculiar word in Hebrew that is used interchangeably in this parashah: Avad. At the beginning of the parashah we read: “The Eternal said to Moses: Come to...
by katie@betalef.org | Jan 17, 2023 | Torah Reflections
VaEira: Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 “Worthy and Belonging” At the end of last week’s portion, Moses, having faced Pharaoh’s first rebuke and retaliation upon the Israelite slaves, immediately complains to God. “My Lord, why have You harmed this people;...
by katie@betalef.org | Jan 11, 2023 | Torah Reflections
Shemot: Exodua 1:1 – 6:1 “Beyond Fear and Morality” The Book of Exodus opens with an accounting of the sons of Jacob—the brothers of Joseph—who have been living in Egypt at the invitation of Joseph and with permission from the pharaoh. After...
by katie@betalef.org | Jan 3, 2023 | Torah Reflections
Vayechi: Genesis 47:28 – 50:26 “A Zodiac Wheel in a Synagogue?” During one of our congregation’s trips to Israel, we made a stop at the archeological site of Bet Alpha, a sixth-century synagogue near Beit She’an. The synagogue is famous for...
