Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

Today's Torah portion opens with the ritual implications of childbirth: "When a woman gives birth to a male..."  The miracle of birth, that human beings can produce life together is itself a significant religious event, often the closest a person comes to feeling God's presence in an immediate and overwhelming way.  That kind of miracle, poised on the border between life and death, divine and human, makes us question the basic assumptions of what it means to be human: what does it mean to be a man or a woman?   Read more...

"Real men don't eat quiche," proclaims one bumper sticker.  "Would you kill flipper for a tuna sandwich?" inquires another.  Both messages assert a connection between what we eat and who we are.  Our community and our character are reflected in our choices of food.  Vegetarians, macrobiotics, those who limit their cholesterol intake, those who won't eat red meat, all are asserting that we are, indeed, what we eat.  While concerns of physical health remain the predominant factor in guiding contemporary people's diet, the link between eating and identity remain strong Read more...

For the second week in a row, our Torah  presents a detailed account of the sacrifices offered first in the Mishkan in the wilderness and later in the Temple of Jerusalem.  Sin offerings, guilt offerings, burnt offerings, and thanksgiving offerings, each with their own regulations and procedures, claim Jewish attention as the central means for Biblical Jews to atone for wrong-doing and to renew themselves as children of God.    Read more...

"Rabbi, I never joined a synagogue, and we don't practice our religion at home, but I've always had a warm feeling for Judaism in my heart.  I know that I've always been a good Jew."  Over and over again, in countless variations, Jews rehearse these lines before rabbis, federation volunteers, and anyone else who holds a position of Jewish responsibility:   "I don't show support in any visible way, you can't tell I'm Jewish by any practice in my life, but all of that means nothing compared to the powerful emotional connection I nurture inside.  Deep down, I'm Jewish" Read more...

Jewish education forms the backbone of our communities. We assure the community of vitality and endurance through the Hebrew studies of our children, the outreach programs for those considering conversion, and the continuing education programs for other seeking adults.  And those programs need our support. Consider the added reading in today's Torah portion for Shabbat Shekalim. Read more...