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 – August 31 to September 6, 2014
Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19 Wrestling With The Uncomfortable 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 many...
Torah Reflections – August 24 to 30, 2014
Shof'tim Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9 The Healing Power of Self-Awareness This week marks the beginning of the month of Elul, the last month of the Jewish year. Less than 29 days separate us from Rosh HaShanah, New Year's Day. Elul is a month of preparation ahead of the...
Torah Reflections – August 17-23, 2014
Re'eh Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17 Waking up From Our Collective Amnesia 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 the...
Torah Reflections – July 6 – July 12, 2014
Pinchas Numbers 25:10 - 30:1 The Mount of Transitions As we are nearing the end of the Book of Numbers, and therefore the end of the Exodus narrative -- which will be retold by Moses in the last book of Deuteronomy -- this week's Torah portion tells of Moses receiving...
Torah Reflections – June 29 – July 5, 2014
Balak Numbers 22:2 - 25:9 We Are Not in Control This week's Torah portion retells one of the most peculiar stories in Torah; that of Balaam and his donkey. Balaam is a professional curser hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Hebrew tribes...
Torah Reflections June 22 – 28, 2014
Chukat Numbers 19:1 - 22:1 The Dissolving Power of The Light of Truth Since we left last week's Torah portion and opened our books again to study this week's, thirty-eight years have passed. The generation of Israelites who had known the slavery of Egypt has now died,...
Torah Reflections – June 8 – 14, 2014
Sh'lach L'cha Numbers 13:1 - 15:41 They Warned Moses And They Were Right This week's Torah portion begins with the famous episode of the spies. Much has been said and written about this episode as it is a turning point in the unfolding drama of our exodus...
Torah Reflections – June 1 – 7, 2014
B'ha-alot'cha Numbers 8:1 - 12:16 The Many Branches of Our Inner Menorah The Eternal spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and say to him, "When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light." Aaron did so... This is...
Torah Reflections May 25 – 31, 2014
Nasso Numbers 4:21 - 7:89 The True Purpose of 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 you...
Torah Reflections – May 17 – 24, 2014
B'midbar Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 We Lose Our self To Find Our Self The midrash relating to the opening of this week's Torah portion, "B'midbar," meaning: "In the wilderness;" asks its reader: "Why was the Torah given in the wilderness?" Why not, our rabbis...
Torah Reflections – May 4 – 10, 2014
B'har Leviticus 25:1 - 26:2 Proclaim Liberty Throughout The Land On July 8, 1776 the Liberty Bell was rung in Philadelphia to mark the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. On the side of the legendary cracked bell the famous inscription:...
Torah Reflections April 27 – May 3, 2014
Emor Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23 Knowing God vs. Playing God The beginning verses in this week's Torah portion are rather challenging to our current understanding of spirituality. They define an impossibly strict code of holiness for the priestly caste. In reading...