In Torah portion Tsav (Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36), we encounter the continuation of the sacrificial laws and the detailed consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This pivotal moment in the Israelite community’s development underlines themes of leadership, sanctity, and the grave responsibility bestowed upon chosen individuals….
Category: Judaism
Judaism
The Way of Life and Moral Living: A Kabbalistic Perspective from Derech Chaim by Rabbi Haim Vital
Introduction Rabbi Chaim Vital, a seminal Kabbalistic figure, left an indelible mark on Jewish thought. Born in 1543 in Calabria, Italy, and later settling in Tzfat, Israel, he became one of the chief disciples of Rabbi Isaac Luria. He was instrumental in transcribing and disseminating Luria’s teachings, culminating in influential…
The Covenant, Complexity, and Authentic Judaism: A Reflection on Parshat Nitzavim
Introduction Parshat Nitzavim, one of the final Torah portions in the book of Deuteronomy, contains some of the most potent theological and ethical messages in the Jewish tradition. This article aims to explore the complex narrative presented in this portion, particularly in the context of the covenant between God and…
The Farmer’s Reminder to the Priest: A Fresh Look at Deuteronomy’s First Fruits
In Deuteronomy chapter 26, we find a significant ritual: the offering of the first fruits to the priest in the Jerusalem temple. The text states, “and he came to the Cohen (priest) that will be in those days and you shall say to him… ‘I declare today to the LORD…
The Dual Concept of Truth in the Torah
The concept of ‘truth’ is a recurring theme in religious and philosophical discourse. In the Torah, specifically the Five Books of Moses, the term is sparingly used, yet its instances of use shed light on the dual understanding of truth: the moral-spiritual truth and the empirical factual truth. Truth as…
Combating the ISIS within our own faith
Just when we thought that terrorists could not become any more barbaric, this week in Sydney, Australia locals faithful to ISIS had planned public beheadings of random people off the street. Having recently returned from a visit to Australia I can attest that it is a wonderful place. Despite the…
Judaism’s Revolutionary Method for Divine Connectivity
Reprinted from The Times of Israel How do we deal with a God that is so transcendent that human beings have no ability to access Him? This is a question humans have been asking since the dawn of time. We have an innate desire to connect with the Divine and…
Is Judaism a Cult?
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright is a truly troubling book. It details the ‘religion ‘ of Scientology from its founding in the 1950’s to the present day. What I found most disturbing, however, was the description of the Sea Organization, which is Scientology’s…
Judaism a religion of peace-for some
The issue of a Jewish doctor violating the Shabbat to treat a non-Jew has come up again in Israel. The Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that one of Israel’s prominent rabbis, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, was quoted as telling his students during a class that, “If a gentile were to…
Judaism and Alcohol
Alcohol has always been a part of my life as a Jew. Twice on Shabbat we make Kiddush over a wine and then the Havdala prayer is made over yet another cup of wine. On Passover we drink four cups of wine during the Seder, on Simchat Torah we drink…