Archive for April, 2008

Acherei

Friday, April 18th, 2008

As we stand on the verge of Shabbat Acharei Mot and of Pesach, I am struck by the fact that a parallel exists, in form if not in content.  In Acharei Mot, after detailing the procedures of the Yom Kippur Avodah, and the discussion about where one brings other offerings, ...

The Seder & Jewish Memory

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Dr Josef Yerushalmi, Jewish historian and author of the book Zakhor, is famous for talking about the importance of Jewish memory, as opposed to Jewish history.  For some, history conjures up images of dusty books, full of dates and details.  History is about knowledge, and can be quite inert.  Yerushalmi ...

Metzorah – “My House has Chicken Pox!” or “Out, Damned Spot”

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

This week’s parsha continues the theme of negaim –blemishes found on the exterior of physical objects.  Last week, we were introduced to bodily afflictions, such as tzaraat, and this week we discuss maladies of the home, wherein spots appear on the walls of one’s house…