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A Summer of Discontent

Aug 5, 2016 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Masei | Mattot

The violent and disturbing events of this summer have given me new appreciation for the book of Numbers, and particularly for its conclusion. After chapter upon chapter of intrigue, rebellion, orgy, and mayhem, attention shifts in parashat Masei, the second part of this week鈥檚 double parashah, to a series of routine arrangements and details, elaborated at times in rhythmic repetition.

Dreaming of Being Balaam

Jul 22, 2016 By Jan Uhrbach | Commentary | Balak

The story of the heathen prophet Balaam鈥攈ired by Moabite king Balak ben Tzippor to curse the people Israel鈥攊s altogether strange. It concerns events happening outside the Israelite camp and seemingly unknown to them, characters we鈥檝e not yet met, and a talking donkey. Its tone ranges from burlesquely funny to surreal.

Courses of Grief

Jul 15, 2016 By Shuly Rubin Schwartz | Commentary | Hukkat

Bereft, I combed through the grass in Central Park at dusk when I realized I had lost my late husband鈥檚 house keys. Yes, on some level, I knew it wasn鈥檛 about the keys. His sudden death two months earlier had devastated me in much more profound ways. And yet, I felt desperate to find those keys!

Choosing Your Child?

Jul 8, 2016 By Daniel Nevins | Commentary | Korah

鈥淲hich do you prefer鈥攜our firstborn child, or the five coins required to redeem him?鈥�

This disconcerting question is part of the ritual known as pidyon haben, the redemption of the firstborn son. Rabbi Asher ben Yehiel (13th鈥�14th centuries) reports this question as part of the liturgy from the geonic period in his Talmud commentary, and it is duly repeated by his son Rabbi Yakov ben Asher and later codifiers of Jewish law.

The Gift of Hallah

Jul 1, 2016 By Reuven Greenvald | Commentary | Shelah Lekha

If you鈥檙e a hallah baker, like I am, you know that all your measuring, kneading, and hours of checking on rising dough are totally worth it when, after the hamotzi at the Shabbat table, your family and friends let out a collective 鈥渁aah.鈥� When that fluffy, sweet piece of bread melts in their mouths, they know it鈥檚 really shabbes.

An All-Too-Easy Transgression

Jun 24, 2016 By Leonard A. Sharzer | Commentary | Beha'alotekha

The concluding episode of this week鈥檚 parashah is one of the most well-known and intriguing stories in the Torah, that of Miriam and Aaron publicly maligning Moses and the consequences thereof. The basic elements of the narrative (Num. 12:1鈥�16) are these: Miriam and Aaron speak out against Moses regarding the Cushite woman he has married, and complain that he is not the only prophet in the family. God has spoken through the two of them, as well. God hears all of this. 

Answer Me

Jun 17, 2016 By Joel Alter | Commentary | Naso

In a plaintive and anxious song by Israeli singer Ehud Banai called 鈥淎neh Li鈥� (鈥淎nswer Me鈥�), the challenge of communicating with God is rendered as an increasingly panicked monologue by a man waiting for a voice he鈥檚 sure is on the other end of the phone line:

You鈥檙e breaking up鈥攖here鈥檚 background noise鈥攊t鈥檚 like the ocean.
I guess there鈥檚 no reception here鈥攜ou鈥檝e disappeared.
I鈥檓 still waiting on the line for my turn.
I鈥檓 holding the connection, in case you return . . .
Are you still with me?
Answer me.

Behukkotai鈥檚 Challenge to Us

Jun 4, 2016 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Behukkotai

Blessing comes to fruition through journey. The journey may be as simple as lighting Shabbat candles or it may be as complicated as leaving the comfort of one鈥檚 home to discover new worlds. Either way, that which is familiar is left behind, and a new reality challenges one to grow and thus to earn God鈥檚 blessing. Such is the challenge of this week鈥檚 parashah.