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.
What We Are Called Upon To Do
Lech L'cha: Genesis 12:1 - 17:27 "What We Are Called Upon To Do" Ramban, Rabbi Moses Nachmanides (13th century Spain), comments at length on a verse in the Torah that at first glance does not seem to hold much importance in the early unfolding of our...
The Outer Dimension of Sacred Space
Noah: Genesis 6:9 - 11:32 "The Outer Dimension of Sacred Space" Whereas a major theme of last week’s parashah (B’reishit) was the human inner dimension of Sacred Space, the two main events of Noah draw our attention to the outer dimensions of Sacred Space. Both...
Cain and Abel: A Teaching on Generosity
B'reishit: Genesis 1:1 - 6:8 "Cain and Abel: A Teaching on Generosity" Abel was a Shepherd and Cain tilled the soil. And it was, after the passing of days, that Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the Eternal; and as for Abel, he...
The Tears of Our Liberation
Ha'azinu: Deuteronomy 32:1 - 52 "The Tears of Our Liberation" Found in this week’s Torah portion is a meditation for the High Holy Days. Know, now, that I AM; I AM Is-ness itself. I AM that which manifests as Creation, there is nothing else. I AM...
Tuning in to God’s Voice
Ki Teitzei: Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19 "Tuning in to God's Voice" As the rabbis of Talmudic times ordered the daily prayer schedule, they made sure we recite the Sh’ma—the central affirmation of our tradition—at least three times a day; during morning and...
Bridging Heaven and Earth
Ki Teitzei: Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19 "Bridging Heaven and Earth" As we find ourselves entering the second half of the book of Deuteronomy, our weekly parasha/portion contains a record of individual, familial, and communal laws and mitzvot. In the...
Humility is Not Humiliation
Shoftim: Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9 "Humility is Not Humiliation" This week is the first week of Elul, the month leading up to Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. It is traditionally a time dedicated to introspection, to reviewing the year that was, and to...
Waking up From Our Collective Amnesia
Re'eh: Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17 "Waking up From Our Collective Amnesia" See! I place before you today a blessings 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...
You Are a Stiffnecked People!
Eikev: Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25 "You Are a Stiffnecked People!" In the middle of our Torah portion Moses, once again, admonishes our people for our intractable stubbornness: “Know, then, that it is not for any virtue of yours that the Eternal your God is giving...
The Blueprint of a Spiritual Journey
VaEt'chanan: Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11 "The Blueprint of a Spiritual Journey" This week’s Torah portion is awash in an abundance of themes. It includes Moses’ plea to God to upend His death sentence so that he, too, may enter the Promised Land. It speaks of the...
How Gemilut Chasadim Changes the World
Balak: Number 22:2 - 25:9 "How Gemilut Chasadim Changes the World" One of the most popular writings of the Hebrew Bible is Pirkei Avot. Mistakenly translated as “Ethics of the Fathers,” it truly means: “First Principles.” The second principle in the opening...
The Dissolving Power of the Light of Truth
Chukat: Number 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...