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Ex 1-New king doesn’t remember Joseph. Threatened by Israelites. Decrees kill male kids. Midwives Shifra/Puah disobey his order. Heroic. Ex 2-Moses’ mother hides him. Miriam helps. Adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses grows, kills man beating Hebrew slave. Flees to Midian. Ex 3-Moses notices burning bush. God tells him to free…
Lv 1-Laws re: burnt offerings/olah. Herd/Flock/Bird. Male-no blemish. Lay hands on offering. Blood dashed on altar. Offering totally burnt. Lv 2-Laws re: grain offering/mincha. Flour/Oil/Frankincense. Priests eat part. No honey or leaven. Offerings must include salt. 1st fruits. Lv 3-Laws re: sacrifice of well-being/shelamim. Various animals. An offering of “pleasing…
Numbers Nu 1-Census of tribes-males age 20+ All who can bear arms. Not Levites-in charge of Tabernacle. Each tribe camps together with own flag. Nu 2-Tribal organization-north, south, east, west. Number of members for each tribe listed. As they camp, so shall they march, by clan. Nu 3-Genealogy of Aaron/Moses.…
Who needs to know? This is a vital principle in the US Army and, I’m sure, in many other business enterprises. It is a vital principle in our personal relationships, where communication is the foundation of intimacy. Who needs to know? Knowledge is power and, when vital information is NOT…
Erev RH- The Talmud teaches, “Great is repentance, for on account of a single person who repents, the sins of all the world are forgiven.” (Yoma 86b) It is outrageous to suggest that one individual could save the world simply by reflecting upon his or her deeds, making amends…
During the month of Elul, culminating on these Yamim Noraim, these Awesome Days, we look back over the year that is drawing to a close with an eye towards where in our lives we might want to push that “restart” button as we enter 5775. Our goal is an unfiltered,…
The Kaddish is a time when we mourn our personal losses, those that have occurred this year as well as those who have touched our lives perhaps many years or even decades ago. As I reflect back on 5774, I reflect on the loss of Nelson Mandela, a man who…
I know two people who lost their lives in the past month in car pedestrian accidents. They woke up in the morning, just like I did today. They got dressed, just like I did today. They left their home, just like I did today. And they are never going back.…
With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for (his or her) life.” With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in (his or her) life.” With your attention…
Reflections on the sounding of the shofar at Selichot services- Throughout the month of Elul we sound the shofar each morning, awakening our souls to the need for teshuvah, for reflection and repentance, and the need for reconciliation in all our relationships. Now, at the time of Selichot, our…