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 24-30, 2010
Parashah (portion) Chayei Sarah -Seeing Through the Veil of the Mind Genesis 23:1 - 25:18 This week brings us to the second value our community selected to practice more deeply this year, the second midah, on our list of twelve: the value of silence. This week also...
Torah Reflections: October 17-23, 2010
Parashah (portion) Vayera -A Place of Great Evil Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 This is the concluding week in our month-long exploration of the midah, the value, of Sacred Space; and I would be remiss if I didn't also explore the possibility of profane places. In this week's...
Torah Reflections: October 10 – 16, 2010
Parashah (portion) Lech Lecha -Heading Home Genesis 12:1 - 17:27 This week, we continue exploring the midah (value) of "Sacred Space" as it is reflected in Torah and as it manifests in our world. This Torah portion calls us to appreciate the deeper significance of...
Torah Reflections: October 3-9, 2010
Parashah (portion) Noah - The Tower of Babel Genesis 6:9 - 11:32 The midah or value we are focusing on this first month is that of "Sacred Space." Last week, through the first chapter of Genesis, I explored the human inner dimension of Sacred Space. This week,...
Torah Reflections: September 26 – October 2, 2010
Parashah (portion) Bereshit - In the Image of God Genesis 1:1 - 6:8 In the spring of this year, our community entered into a conversation about the values that members experience Bet Alef to embody, and that it wishes to foster. After several months of a...
Torah Reflections: September 5-11, 2010
Parashah (portion) HaAzinu - Walking Through the Doors Deuteronomy 32:1-52 We know the High Holy Days are upon us as we read, this week, the penultimate Torah portion of our yearly cycle, and find that the cries of Moses echo the yearnings of our own heart, the...
Torah Reflections: August 29 – September 4, 2010
Parashah (portion) Nitzavim - Vayelech - Embracing our Unpreparedness Deuteronomy 29:9 - 31:30 My heart is beating a little bit faster than usual today. No, I didn't have one cup of coffee too many. But it just so happens that the combined Torah portions for...
Torah Reflections: August 22-28, 2010
Parashah (portion) Ki Tavo - Living Extra-Ordinary Lives Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8 I don't know about you, but I think that the High Holy Days are definitely coming too early this year. After all, we are still in the midst of summer, enjoying barbecues and picnics, and...
Torah Reflections: August 15-21 , 2010
Parashah (portion) Ki Teitzei - On Being our Brothers' Keepers Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19 Like many of you I have been troubled by the fear mongering against the Muslim community coming from the media and our political representatives. Whether it is about the bans...