Posts Tagged ‘rashi’

rashi

July 24, 2015
By bethmordecai
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Parashat D’varim (דברים) — Does God Bring Financial Success?

Parashat D'varim 2015/5775 (Triennial II): Does Financial Success Come From God? Most people know the biblical account of manna from heaven: God provides food from heaven for the Israelites in the form of "manna," a bread like substance that according to rabbinic tradition tastes how you want it to taste. Likewise, the Israelites often stop in the desert for God to give them water. But In the triennial section of this week's Torah portion, we read something different: the Israelites had to PAY the tribe of Esau for food and water (Deuteronomy 2:6)! Because the food and water are no longer "free," does it mean that God does not provide it for them? This does not seem to be the[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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rashi

August 29, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Shoftim (שופטים): How Do You Pursue Justice?

Parashat Shoftim 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- How Do You Pursue Justice? At the beginning of this week's Torah portion, Parashat Shoftim, we read some of the most talked about words in the entire Torah: "Justice, Justice You shall pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20). But what does it mean to pursue justice? Is it a job for the few or is it a job that each of us can undertake in our own way?

We will explore this question using wisdom from Jewish tradition. Please join us for this important conversation.

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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rashi

August 22, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat R’eih (ראה): Is The Harder Path Worth It?

Parashat R'eih 2014/5774 (Triennial I): Is The Harder Path Worth It? In this week's Torah portion, we read that God will bless the Israelites if they follow God's commandments, and will curse them if they do not. Yet, as one rabbinic commentator teaches in a parable, the way of doing God's commandments is a difficult one. So is this harder path really worth it? In our day and age, what kind of blessing can be gained through the hard path of Jewish observance? And what, if any, curse will occur if we do not go down this path?

Join us for this interesting discussion on the[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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rashi

June 13, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat Sh’lah L’kha (שלח לך): The Religious Value of Doubting What You See and Desire

Parashat Sh’lah L’kha: The Religious Value of Doubting What You See and Desire In this week’s Torah portion we read the stories of twelve leaders of Israel who are commanded to “spy” (la-tur) the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:2). Yet at the end of the Torah portion, the  root t-u-r that was used earlier for the positive command “to spy” is used here as the negative command for the Israelites to “not follow (v’lo taturu) what they feel in their hearts and what they see with their eyes (Numbers 15:39).  What can we learn from the juxtaposition of different meanings for this same root? Why[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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rashi

June 6, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat B’ha-alot’khah (בהעלותך): Does God Need Light?

Parashat B'ha-alot'khah 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Does God Need Light? At the beginning of this week's Torah portion, we learn how the Israelites (and particularly the Levites) are instructed to light the m'norah in the Temple. But why is that light there? Do the people need the light to see in the Temple? Or does God need the light of the people? Or is there another purpose to this light altogether! Come join us for this fascinating conversation about the usage of light in our sacred spaces.

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
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rashi

April 11, 2014
By bethmordecai
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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[...]

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