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: October 30 – November 5, 2016
Noah Genesis 6:9 - 11:32 The Tower of Babel This week's Torah portion speaks of two main events: The flood, and, in its wake, the dispersion of mankind following the Tower of Babel episode. It appears that both events are the Divine response to what humans building...
Torah Reflections October 23 – 29, 2016
Bereshit Genesis 1:1 - 6:8 The Kabbalah of Creation I love the esoteric interpretation by Nachmanides—Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, born in Spain (1194-1270)—on the first verse of Genesis: In a beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [Gen. 1:1] Nachmanides helps us...
Torah Reflections – April 3-9, 2016
Tazria Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59 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 three words, Rashi (11th Century,...
Torah Reflections – March 27 – April 2, 2016
Sh'mini Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47 Joy And The Possibility of Forgiveness The inaugural ceremony of the Tabernacle’s dedication and the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood which began with last week’s Torah portion, concludes this week. “BaYom HaSh’mini –...
Torah Reflections – March 20 – 26, 2016
Tsav Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36 The Light of Our Heart In my approach to Torah, I see the text as myth, not reality. I presuppose that, as such, the stories it conveys speak of universal archetypes relating to the human spiritual journey, and seek to unpack the deeper...
Torah Reflections – March 13 – 19, 2016
VaYikra Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 The Fire of Divine Love The last few Torah portions of the Book of Exodus were, as we have seen, focused on the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness; a Sacred Space amidst the traveling Israelite tribes where God came to dwell....
Torah Reflections – February 28 – March 5, 2016
Vayak'hel Exodus 35:1 - 40:38 Our Spiritual Attitude Toward Work This week’s portion in our Torah reading nears the conclusion of the Book of Exodus. The construction of the Tabernacle begins in earnest, only preceded by Moses gathering the entire community of...
Torah Reflections – February 21 – 27, 2016
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...
Torah Reflections – February 14 – 20, 2016
Tetzaveh Exodus 27:20 - 30:10 The Olive Oil Paradigm You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light, to kindle an eternal light. Aaron and his sons shall set it up in the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain...
Torah Reflections – January 31 – February 6, 2016
Mishpatim Exodus 21:1 - 24:18 You Shall Be Holy Both this past week and this week’s Torah portions speak of God’s desire for us to be holy. Last week, just before the Decalogue, God said: “… all the earth is Mine, and you shall be to Me... a holy nation.” (Exod....
Torah Reflections – January 10 – 16, 2016
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 – January 3 – 9, 2016
Va'eira Exodus 6:2 - 9:35 Know Thyself to be Enslaved Every year, as I meet the text narrating the plagues of Egypt, I am confronted with the same paradox. God commends Moses to ask Pharaoh to free the Hebrews. Pharaoh refuses. God brings down a plague. Pharaoh yields...