Parshat Emor
Another of the few narratives in Leviticus occurs in Parsha Emor. It is an odd episode that involves blaspheming God’s name, leading to the sinner being stoned to death. The […]
Parshat Acharei Mot
Parshat Acharei Mot
Vayikra 16:1-2 (Robert Alter, trans.)
And the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons, when they came forward before the LORD, and died. […]
Parshat Tazria-Metzora
Parshat Tazria-Metzora
When I reach the difficult sections of the Torah, I feel more comfortable when I understand it as metaphor or allegory. Our very strange lives, during the […]
Parashat Tzav
Vayikra 6:2 (Robert Alter, trans.)
This is the teaching [torah] of the burnt offering. It is the very burnt offering over its flame on the altar night till morning … […]
Parshat Vayikra
At this time, Avivah Zornberg’s commentaries do not include Leviticus or Deuteronomy. Her method is to seek the underlying psychological tensions in the Torah text, that drawn readers into the […]
Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei
Shemot 35:1-3
Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: On six days work may […]
Parshat Tetzaveh
Shemot 27:19-20,28:1-41 (Robert Alter, trans.)
“As for you [ וְאַתָּ֞ה], you shall command the Israelites, that they take you clear oil … And you [ וְאַתָּ֞ה], bring you forward […]
Parshat Terumah
Barbara and I visited the site of the Mishkan in Shiloh, as well as alternate sites of sacrifice we visited in Israel. We’ll talk about what we saw and the […]
Parshat Mishpatim
Shemot 24:7 (Avivah Zornberg trans.)
“All that God has spoken we shall do and we shall hear!”
Rashi interprets the ratification of the covenant occurring in chapter 24 as […]
Parshat Bo
Shemot 10:1-2
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh. For I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his courtiers, in order that I may display these […]