or hachayim

July 17, 2015
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Parashat Matot-Ma’asei (מטות/מעסי) — Will You Go To War With Me?

Parashat Matot Ma-asei -- Will You Go to War With Me? The Iran Deal agreed to this past week calls into question the ways in which regional powers (Israel, Gulf States) relate to their allies abroad (America, France, Great Britain, etc.). Are their allies standing by them or leaving them to deal with potential consequences of the deal? This week's triennial Torah portion (Numbers 32 and 33) appropriately deal with the issue of whether "allies" (i.e. tribes) will go to war with their brethren if their immediate needs aren't threatened. Likewise, how willing are we to stick our necks out for our friends if we are not affected to the same degree as they are? Will we be present with them or[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : brothers crossing Jordan Gadites God ma'asei ma-asei matot online learning online parashah class or hachayim parsha Reubenites war מטות מעסי

or hachayim

April 11, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Parashat Aharei Mot (אחרי מות): There Is No Earlier and There Is No Later in Torah

Triennial I (2014/5774): There Is No Earlier and There Is No Later in Torah The first words of our Torah portion begin with the words "aharei mot sh'nei b'nei aharon -- after the deaths of Aaron's sons." Yet the demise of Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu, happened three Torah portions earlier in Parashat Sh'mini, so why does the Torah have to teach us that our Torah portion occurs after their death! One explanation is that this proves that there is no earlier (past) or later (present) when it comes to the chronology of events as it is written in the Torah. During today's class we will explore this explanation to try to understand it's implications for the meaning of Torah -- should[...]

Category : home Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : chronology exegesis future history ibn ezra online learning online parashah class or hachayim or hahayyim past rashi torah