Feb 19-25, 2023 Exodus 25:1-27:19 A Torah portion of this week: The Parasha’s name, “Terumah”, means “sacrifice” and is found in Exodus 25:2. The people of Israel are called upon to contribute thirteen materials – gold, silver and copper; blue, purple and red-dyed wool; flax, goat hair, animal skins, wood,… Read More »Parshat Terumah – A Sanctuary?
The Shechinah in general We do not always have a positive image of a king in our current society. We see him as someone who wants to enrich himself at the expense of the common man, someone who plays the boss and wages war. But a true king protects his… Read More »Shechinah
Shabbat 27 Shevat 5783 (18.02.23) מְעַ֥ט מְעַ֛ט אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְרֶ֔ה וְנָחַלְתָּ֖ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Rather, I will drive them out before you little by little, until you grow larger, until you increase and are able to occupy the whole land. Hashem applies the “strategy” of gradualness here. It is not… Read More »Exodus 23:30 – Strategy of Gradualness
Develop your potential through Exodus 21:12-13 A place to flee מַכֵּ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ וָמֵ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃ וַאֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א צָדָ֔ה וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אִנָּ֣ה לְיָד֑וֹ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י לְךָ֙ מָק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה׃ “An adult who strikes a man, woman or child so that he dies must be put to death. However, if he was not… Read More »Where to flee to?
Dinsdag 23 Shevat 5783 (14.02.23) כִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א אֵ֜שׁ וּמָצְאָ֤ה קֹצִים֙ וְנֶאֱכַ֣ל גָּדִ֔ישׁ א֥וֹ הַקָּמָ֖ה א֣וֹ הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה שַׁלֵּ֣ם יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם הַמַּבְעִ֖ר אֶת־הַבְּעֵרָֽה׃ “If a fire breaks out—even accidentally—and spreads through thorns, so that it consumes stacked or standing grain or a newly-plowed field, hardening it so the owner has to plow it again,… Read More »Exodus 22:5 – If a fire breaks out…
Monday 22 Shevat 5783 (13.02.23) עַ֚יִן תַּ֣חַת עַ֔יִן שֵׁ֖ן תַּ֣חַת שֵׁ֑ן יָ֚ד תַּ֣חַת יָ֔ד רֶ֖גֶל תַּ֥חַת רָֽגֶל׃ Monetary compensation for an eye must be made for the loss of an eye, of a tooth for a tooth, of a hand for a hand, and of a foot for a foot.… Read More »Exodus 21:24 – An Eye for an Eye
Sunday 21 Shevat 5783 (12.02.23) כִּ֤י תִקְנֶה֙ עֶ֣בֶד עִבְרִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים יַעֲבֹ֑ד וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת יֵצֵ֥א לַֽחׇפְשִׁ֖י חִנָּֽם׃ Although you are all now wealthy because of the booty you took in Egypt and at the Sea of Reeds, there may nonetheless come a time when things will be different. Thus, if, in… Read More »Exodus 21:2 – Why Start with a Law about Theft?
Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24 ) WAARHEID EN ONWAARHEID (1) “Neem afstand van onwaarheid.(2)” Het is algemeen bekend dat eerlijkheid een van de belangrijkste karaktereigenschappen is en dat de antithese ervan, onwaarheid, een van de meest onwenselijke is. De Sefer Hachinuch spreekt heel krachtig over hoe minachtend het is om te liegen: “Onwaarheid is afschuwelijk en schandelijk… Read More »Waarheid en Onwaarheid
February 12-18, 2023 Exodus 21:1-24:18 A Portion of the Torah Portion of this Week: Following the revelation at Sinai, G‑d legislates a series of laws for the people of Israel. These include the laws of the indentured servant; the penalties for murder, kidnapping, assault and theft; civil laws pertaining to… Read More »Parshat Mishpatim – Where Do We Find the 7 Noahides Laws?
Develop Your Potential from Exodus 18:12 וַיִּקַּ֞ח יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה עֹלָ֥ה וּזְבָחִ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֨א אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכֹ֣ל ׀ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֶאֱכׇל־לֶ֛חֶם עִם־חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ “Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law while Moses served them.” Chesed Moses understood the importance of Chesed, of giving… Read More »Can I Give without Love
