The Jerusalem Post
 

Spoken Word Torah

Wednesday May 02, 2012
The Week of Nezach: Whose Got the Power Now?
 This week in the Omer Count is the week of Nezach. Nezach means 'victory, triumph', when a struggle has been overcome. And yet, the dark side of Nezach is that one person's victory is all too often another's defeat. I once heard Rebbetzin Yemima Mizrachi say, 'The biggest thing you win when you win an argument is an enemy.'   It is interesting that Israeli Independence Day always falls around the week of Nezach. And, unfortunately,...
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Thursday Apr 19, 2012
Tazria/Metzora: When your suffering is a gift
This week we read of how the plague of tzaarat, biblical leprosy, is not limited to skin, but also appears on houses and clothing. The text reads, “When you come into the land of Canaan which I give to you as a possession, and I give you the plague of leprosy of the house...." (Leviticus 14:34) One thing that is striking here is the language of gifting that is used. First there is the reference to the gifting of the land, and...
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Wednesday Apr 11, 2012
Parshat Shemini: Changing cemeteries into sanctuaries
    This week's reading places before us the sobering tale of the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron. The grand-opening & dedication of the Tabernacle is in full swing. God has consumed the first offerings and gloriously appeared before all the people. Into the midst of this ecstacy step forth the newly-consecreated priests, Nadav and Avihu. They bring forward an incense offering, an aish zarah – a foreign fire...
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Thursday Mar 29, 2012
Tzav: Making the most of a negative thought
 This week's reading delves into finely detailed descriptions of the Tabernacle's sacrifices. How do we understand and integrate these images of the ritualized blood and fire into our lives today? Where does this text meet our most intimate and personal lives? One stunning example of a personalization of the priestly offerings is found in the 19th century commentary from the Sefat Emet on this week's parsha. It takes as its starting point...
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Thursday Mar 22, 2012
Vayikra: Do You Size Up?
  This week begins the 3rd book of the Torah, Sefer Vayikra. Vayikra translates as, 'and He called', refering to God's calling to Moses. Thus the theme of 'divine calling' stands out as a central teaching of this book, and of a spiritual life in general. The idea of calling rubs up against our deepest human hopes, quandries and discomforts. It stirs our questions of self-worth, of purpose, of productivity, and identity. To grapple with...
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