Emor  Lev. 21:1 – 24:23  Rabbi Gary Pokras   Of all the books that had a significant and lasting impact on me, The Jewish Way by Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg is towards the top of the list. He opens the very first chapter with deep wisdom: “The Holy Days are the unbroken master code of Judaism. […]

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim Lev. 16:1-34/ Lev. 19:1 – 20:27   Rabbi Baht Weiss   Acahrei Mot literally means, “after the death.”  The parsha begins with God speaking to Moses “acharei mot shnei bnai Aharon” after the death of Aaron’s two children, who were named Nadav and Abihu, who died in the previous Torah portion.  Our text tells us […]

Yom HaZikaron/HaAtzma’ut Deut. 8:1-8; 11:8-12; 26:1-11; 30:1-16  Rabbi Gary Pokras  Four passages from Deuteronomy are assigned to Israel’s Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) and Independence Day (Yom HaAtzma’ut). Just as Yom HaZikaron morphs into Yom HaAtzma’ut, so that they we can better appreciate what those who sacrificed their lives help to build, so too, these four […]

Tazria – Metzorah 5783 Lev. 12:1 – 15:33  Rabbi Baht Yameem Weiss   Tazria Metzorah used to be one of the most difficult Torah portions in which to relate.  It discusses a mysterious skin rash that appears on a person, often explained as a discoloring or whitening of the skin.  Rather than go to a doctor, […]

Yom HaShoah 5783 Deut. 4:30-40  Rabbi Gary Pokras   Emil Fackenheim, the noted 20th century Jewish philosopher and Reform rabbi, is most famous for positing what he called the 614th commandment. The holy torah contains 613 distinct commandments. Following the Shoah, Fackenheim felt the moral imperative to add another: “Thou shalt not hand Hitler posthumous victories. […]

Shemini 5783 Lev. 9:1 – 11:47  Rabbi Gary Pokras   In parashat Shemini we read about the physical characteristics necessary for an animal to be kosher: it must have true hooves (with clefts) and it must chew its cud. Then, to make sure that we understand that both characteristics are necessary, the Torah gives us several […]