You don’t want a king. At least, the Tanakh doesn’t want you to want a king. This week’s Torah/haftorah pairing…
Tag: Mishkan
Torah Code: Talking Politics
The Bible Code. No, not the secret number pattern. Or a special message from aliens. But a way of talking…
Reconciliation and Re-Creation: Parshat Pekudei
Human beings can re-create the world, says the Torah in Parshat Pekudei. This is heartening news for Canadians. Only a…
Terumah: Did God Create Humans or Did Humans Create God?
“Did God create humans or did humans create God?” That, said my study group, is a question posed by Parshat…
Havdalah: Your Priestly Responsibility
“Havdalah” means “division.” But the havdalah ritual does not divide Jews — from other traditions or from each other. Before Havdalah…
Offering Worship: Did Moses Make It All Up?
Offering as a form of worship. Take a look at Leviticus. God offers some weird instructions for worship! Like a precise…
The Entire Torah is Just a Manifesto for Women's Rights. Torah Portion Mattot-Masei tells us so!
Oh boy! Oh girl! Look at the opening sentences of Parshat Mattot-Masei (Numbers 30:2-36:13). Women can vow to work at…
Simply a Sanctuary
Please, no, not another recounting of the details of the mishkan (sanctuary)! My eyes will glaze, my brain will freeze,…
Call Me Duhan (On Spiritual Names in Torah)
Torah says: God chooses the lead designers for the sanctuary. God says, I am calling them by name (Exodus 31:2).…