RJ Blog

Moab King Balak Feared G-d’s people Israel Called Balaam for help A “curser for hire” Who was unable to curse G-d prevented it So what did he say? “Mah tovu o-ha-le-cha” How good are your tents Image from Midrash Manicures

Red heifer ashes Used for purification That’s something special But ash gatherers Remain unclean ’til evening That’s not so special  

The staff of Aaron Blossoming, full of almonds Proof he is G-d’s choice Numbers 17:23: The next day, when Moses came to the Testimony Tent, Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had blossomed. It had given forth leaves, and was [now] producing blossoms and almonds were ripening on it.

Tabernacle clouds Divine sign to the people Stay put for a while When clouds have lifted G-d is sending a message It’s time to move on Bamidbar/Numbers 9:17-18: Whenever the cloud rose up from the Tent, the Israelites would set out on the march. The Israelites would then camp in the place where the cloud rested. The Israelites would thus move on at God’s bidding, and at God’s bidding they would remain in one place for as long as the cloud remained on the Tabernacle.

Kosher animals? Cloven hoofed mammals are fine If they chew their cud Camels, rabbits? Treif Each of them brings up its cud But lacks cloven hooves And pigs? Not kosher Yes, it has a cloven hoof But cud chewer? No. Leviticus 11:3-4,6-7 – Among mammals, you may eat [any one] that has true hooves that are cloven and that brings up its cud. However, among the cud-chewing, hoofed animals, these are the ones that you may not eat: The camel shall be unclean to you although it brings up its cud, since it does not have a true hoof … [...]

  Torah says seven Diaspora Jews do eight Is it still Pesach?   The Torah commands us (Exodus 12:15) to eat matzah for seven days of the Passover Festival. That is generally the practice in Israel and for Reform Jews.

For the offerings Burnt, meal, sin and well being The rules are all here   Chapters 6 and 7 of Leviticus (the first part of this week’s portion) list the detailed rules for various types of offerings. This section concludes, “This then is the law of the burnt offering, the meal offering, the sin offering, the inauguration offering, and the peace offering, which G-d gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. [It was given] on the day that He commanded the Israelites to offer their sacrifices to G-d in the Sinai Desert” (Lev 7:37-38)

  Today we use prayer Sacrifices of the heart Offerings to G-d

Mishkan building fund Moses asks, the people give More than is needed

Impatient people Worshiping a Golden Calf Offensive to G-d

  A Purim question What flavor hamentashen Do you like the best?

Among the details G-d says to use olive oil For the ner tamid

G-d says to Moses: “They shall make Me a mikdash I’ll dwell among them* Does G-d need a place In which G-d’s spirit can dwell Or do we need it?   *Exodus 25:8 They shall make Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them.

  Commanded this week: Best policy? Honesty. Don’t pervert justice   Exodus 23:1-7 Do not accept a false report. Do not join forces with a wicked person to be a corrupt witness. Do not follow the majority to do evil. Do not speak up in a trial to pervert justice. A case must be decided on the basis of the majority. Do not favor [even] the poorest man in his lawsuit. If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone you hate lying under its load, [...]