Torah Reflections
Each week, Rabbi Olivier prepares a written reflection on the weekly Torah portion. These provide yet another way to discover the texts sacred to Judaism and to prepare for Shabbat each week.
Torah Reflections: March 11 – 17, 2018
VaYikra Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 A Major Step in Evolving World Consciousness The opening of the Book of Leviticus showcases a momentous event in Western history, yet it goes mostly unnoticed. In it, we witness a major step forward in the evolution of Western...
Torah Reflections: March 4 – 10, 2018
Vayak'hel - Pekudei Exodus 35:1 - 40:38 Our Spiritual Attitude Toward Work This week’s double portion in our Torah reading marks the conclusion of the Book of Exodus. The construction of the Tabernacle begins in earnest, only preceded by Moses gathering the entire...
Torah Reflections: February 25 – March 3, 2018
Ki Tissa Exodus 30:11 - 34:35 What if Moses Never Came Back? When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, the people gathered against Aaron and said to him: Arise, make us a god who will go before us, for that fellow Moses—the man who...
Torah Reflections: February 11 – 17, 2018
T'rumah Exodus 25:1 - 27:19 Creating an Inner Sanctuary This week’s Torah portion opens with the famous verse: “V’asu Li mik’dash, v’Shachan’ti b’tocham,” usually translated: “And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” [Exod. 25:8] Though from this...
Torah Reflections: February 4 – 10, 2018
Mishpatim Exodus 21:1 - 24:18 Our Highest Spiritual Principles When a person’s ox injures a neighbor’s ox and it dies, they shall sell the live ox and divide its price; they shall also divide the dead animal. If, however, it is known that the ox was in the habit of...
Torah Reflections: January 28 – February 3, 2018
Yitro Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 One With the One Now Moses went up to God. The Eternal One called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on...
Torah Reflections: January 21 – 27, 2017
B'shalach Exodus 13:17 - 17:16 Then! This week’s Torah portion has all the traits of a great adventure novel. We ran away, but they pursued us. We took an unexpected turn that brought us to the edge of an impassable sea; and they were closing in on us fast. But at the...
Torah Reflections: January 14 – 20, 2017
Bo Exodus 10:1 - 13:16 From Pharaoh's Slaves to God's Slaves There is one peculiar word in Hebrew that is used interchangeably in this week’s Torah portion. While the Torah portion itself tells of the last plagues wrought upon Egypt by God and, in the end, of the...
Torah Reflections: December 10 – 16, 2017
Mikeitz Genesis 41:1 - 44:17 Interpreting Dreams, Creating Reality This Torah portion begins with Pharaoh’s famous dreams. First, seven cows come up from the Nile fat and sturdy, followed by seven cows sickly and gaunt; the latter eat the former. Then, seven ears of...
Torah Reflections: December 3 – 9, 2017
Vayeshev Genesis 37:1 - 40:23 Embracing Imbalance Vayeishev, the name and first word of this week’s Torah portion has caused much ink to be spilled. Vayeishev is translated in English to mean: “And he settled,” referring to Jacob finally settling down “in the land of...
Torah Reflections: Nov. 26 – Dec. 2, 2017
Vayishlach Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 Awakening from Within the Silence One of the first revelations that meditation gifts us with is an encounter with the unbelievable noise that lies within us, right behind our closed eyes. As if by magic, as soon as our eyes are...
Torah Reflections: November 19 – 25, 2017
Vayeitzei Genesis 28:10 - 32:3 God Was in This Place There is one verse in this week’s Torah portion which encompasses the entirety of the Kabbalistic endeavor: “Waking from his sleep, Jacob said, ‘Truly, the Eternal is in this place, and I did not know it!’” [Gen....