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 3 – 9, 2013
Vayak'heil-P'kudey 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...
Torah Reflections – February 10 – 16, 2013
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 3 – 9, 2013
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."...
Torah Reflections – January 27 – February 2, 2013
Yitro Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 The End of Belief We finally reached Mount Sinai, ten weeks after escaping Egypt. There, Moses told us we had three days to purify ourselves and wash our clothing in preparation for our meeting with God. And as morning dawned on the...
Torah Reflections – January 20 – 26, 2013
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 13 – 19, 2013
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 6 – 12, 2013
Va'eira Exodus 6:2 - 9:35 Many Faces of God This week's Torah portion opens with a compelling affirmation: "God (Elohim) spoke to Moses and said to him: 'I Am the Eternal (YHVH).'" [Ex. 6:2] I often wonder how people read this opening: "God spoke to Moses." It is such...
Saying Goodbye to Another Year – 2012
Another year is drawing to a close and, unfortunately, these past few weeks have been emotionally wrenching. My thoughts are, especially, with the families of Newton, but this past year has seen tragedies near and far, in our own city of Seattle and in the lands of...
Torah Reflections – December 2 – 8, 2012
Vayeishev Genesis 37:1 - 40:23 You Make a Difference Reuben is a character that is mostly overlooked in these weeks' Torah portions dominated by the stories of Jacob and Joseph. Reuben is Jacob's firstborn son, from his first wife, Leah. Technically, he is the one in...
Torah Reflections November 25 – December 1
Vayishlach Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 Being Present to Our Fear In the previous Torah portion we read about Jacob's vision of the ladder that came to him in a dream. At the end of that vision God appears to him to say: "And here I am, with you. I will guard you wherever you...
Torah Reflections Nov. 11 – 17, 2012
Tol'dot Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 Why We Need Conflict The twin brothers, Esau and Jacob, wrestled each other since before they were born. At the beginning of this week's Torah portion we learn that: "Rebekah became pregnant. But the children almost crushed one another...
Torah Reflections November 4 – 10, 2012
Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1 - 25:18 When Isaac Met Rebekah This week's Torah portion opens with Sarah's death. After Abraham mourns her, he sets out to accomplish his last fatherly duty before he, too, makes his transition: finding a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham...