Bereshit Genesis 1:1–6:8 By Jen Smith These may be the most famous words in all of Torah: Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim v’et ha’aretz – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Jewish mysticism teaches that the “moment” of Creation, wasn’t a moment at all. Far from the one-time event captured inside […]

Ha’azinu Deuteronomy 32:1 – 52  By Jen Smith  Parashat Ha’azinu is unlike almost anything else in the Torah. After forty years of wandering, after laws, stories, and struggles, Moses concludes his life’s mission with a poetic song:  “Give ear, O heavens, let me speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth…” (Deut. 32:1)  […]

Parshat Vayeilech/Shabbat Tshuvah Deuteronomy 31:1–30 By Torah Blogger, Jen Smith This week’s Torah portion, Vayeilech, begins with two simple words: Vayeilech Moshe “And Moses went.” Now, I don’t know about you, but when I hear that, I smile. Moses is 120 years old. Where exactly is he going? At that age, I’d be happy if […]

Nitzavim Deuteronomy 29:9 – 30:20 By Torah Blogger Jen Smith On the surface, this might sound like some kind of covenantal renewal ceremony. But our ancient rabbis and mystics saw something much deeper. The Midrash Tanchuma teaches that the Torah emphasize “all of [us]” from leaders to laborers because our covenant with God can only […]

Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 By Torah Blogger, Jen Smith Ki Teitzei is overwhelming. It contains more mitzvot than almost any other portion (74, in fact.) Reading through them is like scrolling through an ancient rulebook: lost property, fair wages, limits on punishment, laws of family life, kindness to animals, proper building codes. It […]