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 April 20 – 26, 2014
K'doshim Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27 A Holiness Code For Tomorrow This week's Torah portion continues to describe what started in our last portion, what is known as the Holiness Code, which will span the rest of Leviticus. This Holiness Code is a code of conduct, a...
Passover Reflections, 2014 – Preparing for Passover #3
A Connection Through Time Sunday is coming to a close, and tomorrow night is the first night of Passover. I just finished cleaning our house and I can't imagine there could be any chametz anywhere. Chametz is the Hebrew word that stands for all leavened foods...
Passover Reflections 2014 – Preparing for Passover #2
The Kabbalah of Passover A few years ago, at our annual Bet Alef Community Seder, I shared with those in attendance -- members and non-members alike -- a tradition that has been in my family for, I suspect, many generations. Growing up, I remember looking...
Passover Reflections – April 2014
Preparing for Passover #1 Mah Nish'tanah? What Has Changed? This is the time of the year, personally, when I delight in re-opening the Passover Haggadah and in looking inside for more treasures to be revealed. Four years ago I compiled a new version of the Bet...
Torah Reflections – March 30 – April 5, 2014
M'tzorah Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33 Connecting Near-East & Far East This week's Torah portion is, admittedly, a challenge to our modern sensibilities. This portion talks about tzara'at, a skin affliction most translators define as leprosy; although no one knows...
Torah Reflections – March 23 – 29, 2014
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 16 – 22, 2014
Tzav 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 - On...
Torah Reflections – March 9 – 15, 2014
Tzav 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 2 – 8, 2014
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. We...
Torah Reflections – February 23 – March 1, 2014
P'kudei Exodus 38:21 - 40:36 Building The Inner Tabernacle This week's Torah reading brings us to the close of the Book of Exodus. In these final moments the Israelites build all the many pieces of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle,...
Torah Reflections – February 9 – 15, 2014
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...
Torah Reflections – February 2 – 8, 2014
T'tzaveh 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 that...