Posts Tagged ‘parsha’

parsha

March 21, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Sh’mini (שמיני): A Strange Fire?

2014/5774 (Triennial I): A Strange Fire? In this week's Torah portion, Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu bring an "eish zarah," a strange fire, to the tabernacle and instead of having their gift accepted, they are personally consumed by a fire from God. What went wrong? What was this strange fire that God not only rejected but caused God to kill them? Can we learn anything from this episode about how we should or should not approach God in our worship? Join the class to find out!    Classes from other years... 2013/5773 -- Why Is Pig So Unkosher?   Details of Photo The Death of Nadab and Abihu, engraving by[...]

Category : home Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

March 14, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Tzav (צו) — The Always Burning Flame

Parashat Tzav (צו) Triennial I (2014/5774):  The Always Burning Flame Fire is often used as a metaphor for motivation, as in the phrase "to have a burning passion." Also, like motivation, fire is a limited resource that can only burn when it has enough fuel. Yet, our Torah portion today speaks of an "always burning flame" upon the altar that seemingly does not need to be renewed. Is it possible that like this burning flame, our own passion and motivation can be constant WITHOUT the need for refuel? Check out the class to find out!

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

February 28, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat P’kudei (פקודי) — Keeping Track of What’s Important

2014/5774 (Triennial I): Keeping Track of What's Important We make lists of all sorts of things, from home supplies, to daily tasks, to a "bucket" list of what we want to do in life. Yet aren't there times when it feels like writing down or keeping track of all of those lists are just a burden? Wouldn't it be better if sometimes we didn't have to worry about keeping track of things? This week's Torah portion of P'kudei might give us some interesting insight on the spiritual component of keeping track of what's important and how to manage the important tasks of our day.     Photo by Chris Freeland on Flickr -[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

February 14, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Ki Tissa (כי תשא) — From Cannabis To Shabbos: Does Judaism Embrace or Control Our Desires?

This Week's Online Parashah Class: Parashat Ki Tissa -- From Cannabis To Shabbos: Does Judaism Embrace or Control Our Desires? 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- From Cannabis To Shabbos: Does Judaism Embrace or Control Our Desires? Religion is often seen as a "conservative" movement that focuses its efforts on restricting our behaviors. However, is it possible that religion actually helps us embrace our desires rather than trying to make them go away? Should we make use of all there is to offer in this world, or are[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

February 7, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat T’tzaveh (תצוה) — The Torah’s View of Brotherly Love

2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- The Torah's View of Brotherly Love In the Bible, brothers often don't get along. Cain killed Abel, Jacob stole Esau's birthright, and Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. But are there more positive examples than these negative portrayals of sibling rivalry? Using wisdom from this week's Torah portion, Parashat T'tzaveh, and some teachings from the midrash, we will take a look at how the Torah does relate a positive example of brotherly love by way of the relationship between Moses and Aaron and what their example can teach us about what it means to have a positive relationship with our siblings.  Photo courtesy of Jim Hammer on[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

January 31, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat T’rumah (תרומה): The Light of Lamps and The Bread of Tables

2014/5774 (Triennial I): The Light of Lamps and The Bread of Tables In the first third of this week's Torah portion (Exodus 25:1-40), we learn about the building of the ark, the table, and the lamp of the tabernacle (in that order). It makes sense that the ark should have been written first, but why does the table come before the lamp? Is one more important than the other? And is there a lesson to be found in this about human nature and good and evil? Check out this week's Online Parashah Class to find out!  Classes from other years... Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

January 17, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Yitro (יתרו) — Getting “Buy In”

2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Getting "Buy In" Any successful leader or organization needs the people they serve or emply to "buy in" to the vision they are selling or promoting. Without that buy in, where's the motivation to do the work and to do it together? The same holds true for Moses -- was he able to get buy in from his leaders and from the people to promote the values of the Torah? What's more, how can we who live so many thousands of years after the Revelation of Torah buy into what the Torah is selling? We will discuss these questions and more during today's online parashah class

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

January 10, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat B’shalah (בשלח) — How Do We and God Interact in this World?

2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Parashat B'shalah: How Do We and God Interact in this World? 
 Parashat B'shalah, with it's famous story of the splitting of the Sea of Reeds, seems to teach us how God can come down to the human world and save human beings, like the Israelites. Yet towards the beginning of the parashah in Exodus 13:8, the Torah teaches us that the Isralites left Egypt "armed" (hamushim) -- why would they need to be armed if God was going to save them from the Egyptians? Shouldn't they just have had faith without the need to physically protect themselves? Or does God want us to protect ourselves before stepping[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

January 3, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Bo (בא) — Pharaoh’s Egypt

Last week's Online Parashah Class: Parashat Bo 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Pharaoh’s Egypt: By the People, For the People? By most accounts, the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were God-like figures who had God-like powers over their subjects. Yet, in our Parashah which describes the last moments before the Israelites are freed from Egypt, it seems that the people have a little more power than you’d expect under Pharaoh’s rule. Is this example of populous pressure a hint of the move towards more popular centered rule, like democracy?  Classes from other years...  (2013/5773) Triennial III -- Leaving in Haste: On the Israelites Being Freed From Egypt   

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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parsha

December 27, 2013
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Va-era (וארא) — Where Does Aaron Come From? Where Does Torah Come From?

2013/5774 (Triennial I) -- Where Does Aaron Come From? Where Does Torah Come From? The Torah is clear that Aaron, Moses' older brother (Exodus 7:7) is an important character in the Exodus story. But when does he appear on the scene? If he was older than Moses, how was he born when all male Israelite children were being killed? Perhaps by learning where Aaron comes from we can learn a little bit about where the Torah comes from.

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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