Chaya Kaplan-Lester
Purim: Revelling in Revealing
Posted by Chaya Kaplan-Lester | Tags: Purim
Purim revolves around the revelation of the hidden. After all, the core text we read during Purim is the Megillah. A word which shares its root with 'gilui' revelation. There is an ecstacy, a joy that comes with the dramatic disclosure of Truth. Torah itself is the revelation of an otherwise...
Parshat Tzav: Making the most of a negative thought
Posted by Chaya Kaplan-Lester | Tags:
Tzav: This week's reading delves into finely detailed descriptions of the Tabernacle's sacrifices. How do we understand and integrate these images of the ritualized blood and fire into our lives today? Where does this text meet our most intimate and personal lives? One stunning example of a...
Vayikra - How do you size up?!
Posted by Chaya Kaplan-Lester | Tags: Vayikra
This week begins the 3rd book of the Torah, Sefer Vayikra. Vayikra translates as, 'and He called', refering to God's calling to Moses. Thus the theme of 'divine calling' stands out as a central teaching of this book, and of a spiritual life in general. The idea of calling rubs up against our deepest...
