/srv/www/apps/seventyfaces/releases/20120521171737 The last few contributions. Read them, or register to share your own! http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/421/sh-mot-daddy-why-did-g-d-try-to-kill-moses Today at shul, we looked at Exod. 4:24-26, where G-d comes to Moses and Zipporah on the way to Egypt and seeks to kill Moses or Moses' son, and is dissuaded by Zipporah's hasty circumcision of her son. We discussed a lot of interesting translation problems in the passage -- was the intended victim... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/421/sh-mot-daddy-why-did-g-d-try-to-kill-moses http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/420/vayera-follow-up When Vayera came around again this year, I talked about my previous d'var with my Torah study group. The big question, for me, was: OK, if Abraham's error was to doubt G-d's justice, is this parasha telling us that G-d just wants blind obedience and/or faith? Just obey, just have faith, no matter... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/420/vayera-follow-up http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/419/vayikra-5772-2012-the-sacrificial-call Parashat VaYikra contains echoes of the past few weeks. We just finished the book of Shemot/Exodus, and this week we begin the book of VaYikra/Leviticus. The end of Shemot is all about the building of the mishkan, and so, true to Jewish tradition, the journey forward remembers the past. The final... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/419/vayikra-5772-2012-the-sacrificial-call http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/418/sh-mot-a-nameless-man-meets-a-nameless-g-d What was Moses' name? Duh, Moses, right? Not so fast. Moses was the name given by Pharaoh's daughter -- but what did his parents call him? We never find out. For that matter, what are his parent's names? His whole family is nameless. Even Miriam is not named in this parsha. Tradition... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/418/sh-mot-a-nameless-man-meets-a-nameless-g-d http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/417/facinating-fire My son is fascinated by fire. He pretends to light Shabbat candles using his toy candlesticks, and every time he passes by the spot where we store our hanukiot, our menorahs, he points to them and says "fire. Don't touch. Very hot." Yet the potential danger doesn't deter him from climbing up on a... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/417/facinating-fire http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/416/vayera-abraham-s-apostasy-and-the-akeda From a standpoint of ordinary human ethics, Vayera is perhaps the most difficult of all the parashot. When we read the Akeda, those of us with children shudder at the thought of a man unhinged enough to offer up his own son as a sacrifice, and cringe at a G-d who would put him to that kind of test.... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/416/vayera-abraham-s-apostasy-and-the-akeda http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/415/mocking-birds “Mocking Birds” Desert floor covered by quail G-d’s ironic response to ungrateful complaints. Feather’s fly as poisoned meat stuffs greedy mouths, silencing negativity forever. http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/415/mocking-birds http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/414/korach-5771-trust-and-care This week's Torah Portion, Korach, centers on a popular uprising within the Israelite community against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Within the narrative the power of God manifests as the very earth opens a "mouth" to swallow the rebels whole. How can a healing message possibly survive this... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/414/korach-5771-trust-and-care http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/413/the-eighth-day There are a lot of different ways to live your life. Each culture and each minority group develop their own style of dress, their own arts and music, their own language and forms of expression, their own values and etiquette. Perhaps every culture and nation has some aspects of their culture that... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/413/the-eighth-day http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/412/sleepless-in-persia Originally written the shabbat before Purim 2011/5771 - but please - let's spread this far and wide so it has time to circulate by next purim- something to consider, to incorporate... Discuss, respond, comment, but mostly, if you want and would, please pass along... been contemplating this for a... http://www.seventyfaces.com/dvar/412/sleepless-in-persia