February 16, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, God describes to Moshe the mizbe’ach haketoret (incense altar) and the clothing and anointing process of the cohanim (priests). The ketoret (incense offering) was a blend of aromatic spices and other ingredients that, when burned, gave off a wonderful smell. Some suggest that the command to offer incense was to purify the air and to perfume […]

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February 9, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem instructs Moshe to collect gifts from Bnei Yisrael in order to build a Mishkan (Tabernacle) so that Hashem can dwell among the people; Hashem describes to Moshe the vessels and structures that comprise the Mishkan.  The words we use to describe something make a difference. People will respond differently to being described as “stingy,” […]

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February 2, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this week’s parasha, Moshe informs the people of numerous ethical and ritual laws and seals the brit (covenant) between the Bnei Yisrael and Hashem. One of the numerous laws in the parasha states (22:20), “Do not wrong a stranger nor oppress him for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Hermann Cohen (1842-1919, […]

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January 27, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this week’s parasha, Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, suggests a system for establishing lower courts to settle disputes; Hashem articulates the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) to the Bnei Yisrael amidst fire, smoke, and sounds of the shofar. The author of the book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), traditionally regarded to have been Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon), wrote “ein kol chadash tachat hashemesh – there is nothing new […]

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January 20, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this week’s parasha, after the Bnei Yisrael cross the Reed Sea in safety while Paro’s army drowns, they sing praises to Hashem; in response to their complaints about a lack of food and water, Hashem gives them manna; and they are then attacked by Amalek. There are actually two Songs of the Sea. The […]

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January 13, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This week’s parasha tells the story of the last three plagues, the preparations that the Bnei Yisrael need to make in order to leave Mitzrayim, and the actual exodus itself. There is an unusual and unexpected verse right in the middle of the section when God relates to Moshe what will happen during the plague […]

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January 6, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, through Moshe and Aharon, Hashem brings plagues on the Mitzrim (Egyptians), and Paro repeatedly refuses to allow the Bnei Yisrael to leave. When Moshe goes to speak with Bnei Yisrael about redemption and the wonders that God will use to bring them into the Land of Israel, the Torah tells us [6:9]: “And they […]

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December 29, 2015 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Bnei Yisrael become slaves to Paro; Paro’s daughter saves Moshe from the Nile and, after killing an Egyptian taskmaster, Moshe flees to Midian where he marries and has children; Hashem instructs Moshe to liberate the people; Moshe returns to Egypt, and Moshe and Aharon approach Paro, who refuses their request for liberation. […]

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December 23, 2015 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yaakov blesses his sons on his deathbed and asks them to bury him in Canaan. Many of us know the story of the blind patriarch who, ostensibly due to his lack of sight, gives the younger son the blessing of the firstborn and vice versa. Of course, this scenario describes Yitzchak’s blessings of […]

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December 16, 2015 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef reveals his identity to his brothers, prompting the entire family to move to Egypt, where Yosef reunites with his father, Yaakov. Yaakov’s story comes full circle in chapter 46, verses 2-4, a passage with many intriguing parallels to a text that we read five weeks ago, about Yaakov starting out on […]

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