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Monthly Archives: 11 Nisan 5770 (March 26, 2010)
Parashat Vayikra
Parashat Vayikra 5770 The Sin (Offering) of a Leader This week we enter a new book of the Torah. It is the centerpiece between Creation and Exodus on one side and the wanderings of a people and a coming to the end of their journey on the other. The central book of the Torah concerns itself with the Levites and their role in forging a community out a nation of disparate tribes who desire to have a close-knit relationship with one another. One of the central functions of the Levites was to offer the sacrifices on the altar before God. This is the way in which our ancient ancestors were able to draw near to God in a way that made them feel better when they felt themselves straying from the rightful path in life, as well as expressing a heartfelt gratitude for the many blessings in their lives despite the many hardships that they had to face in their wanderings. Prayer is a replacement for the sacrifices of old. However, it pales in comparison to what happened when people brought their offerings to the Levites. How can words ever compensate for the other senses that were involved when a … Continue reading
Mrs. Davidyan Brings Bible Stories To Life
Parashat Vayikra – D’var Acheir
Parashat Vayikra 5770 Drawing Closer To Our Prayers It is difficult for us to relate to the many sacrifices that take place while the Levites serve God and the people as they travel in the wilderness. As the details are related to us in the early chapters of Leviticus, we get a sense of how the placing of an animal on an altar was supposed to create a closer relationship between human beings and God. The act of presenting an animal was both a physical sacrifice as well as an emotional one that touched the human senses from all sources – sight, sound, smell, touch, taste! They believed wholeheartedly that God was moved by the pleasant smells of meat roasting on an open flame. Yet, there must be something more to the sacrifices than meets the eye. Indeed, there is an opening in the text that leads us to a greater understanding of how we can develop our relationship with God.
A Letter from the North Shore Rabbinical Association
Ma’ot Hittin: Food/Finances for Our Jewish Brothers and Sisters Here On Boston’s North Shore Every year at this time Jews around the world traditionally begin preparing for Pesach. Long before the first guest sits down at our seder meal, or the kids start complaining around our seder tables crying out, “When do we eat?” Jews have been cooking and cleaning and cleaning and cooking for days, even for weeks. We get our physical homes and our spiritual homes in order with all of our necessary preparations, which is probably one reason this is such a deeply rewarding and meaningful time on our calendar. But what truly adds to this holiday is that it is not only about us and our own private, spiritual journey. It is not simply about our family or even just the local Jewish communities in which we live. Rather, one of the holiest aspects of any Jewish holiday, but Pesach in particular, is how it connects us to Jews across the country, across the world, across the denominational divides, across all of the boundaries and barriers which all too often keep us apart. And perhaps there is no better expression of this than our ancient custom … Continue reading
Shavuot Day One – A Hands On Approach to Torah
Shavuot 5770 A Hands On Approach to Torah ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CHECK OUT THIS WEB SITE! Peoplestorah.org People’s Torah is an interactive, three-dimensional rendering of the Five Books of Moses, commissioned by and installed at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In Judaism we claim that the Torah is our lifeline. If there ever is a fire, the first thing that people grab are the scrolls, not because they are so expensive to replace, rather because their loss is no different than that of a loved one. Each scroll is cherished for what it represents to the community. When we return the scroll to the ark, we recite the words: “Eitz chayyim he – It is a Tree of Life; Lemachazikim bah –to those who hold fast to it; V’tomcheha me’ushar — All who uphold it may be counted fortunate; Deracheha darchey no’am – Its ways are ways of pleasantness; V’chol netivoteha shalom — And all its paths are peace…” The Torah is compared to a tree whose seeds give life to new generations of seedlings as it grows old, but never dies off. For three thousand years … Continue reading
