http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/ en 2008-05-05T10:03:09-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/05/parshat_emor_le_3.html This week our parsha begins by addressing the Priesthood. The priests have an extraordinary duty to guard their holiness and purity and this week’s portion, Emor, begins by addressing this very idea. The priesthood who come into the sacred boundaries of the Sanctuary and offer the sacrifices, must according to this week’s portion be scrupulous in their attention to spiritual purity. And the High Priest himself, may not even come into contact with death through the death of his own parents. This is extraordinary in the boundaries that are used to protect the priest from any ritual impurity, the High Priest and ultimately the altar and sacrifices.

]]> Aaron 2008-05-05T10:03:09-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/04/parshat_kedoshi_1.html The Torah portion this week, Kedoshim, describes many pathways to holiness. Particularly in chapter 19 of Leviticus there are many examples of the high moral ground we must take in dealing with others in society. We are reminded that our call to live holy lives flows directly from God’s holiness. “You shall be holy for I Adonai your God, am holy” (Lev.19:3). Kedusha, holiness is a divine attribute according to the Torah. This is an attribute that we are called to aspire to and live by as Jews. In chapter 19 many of the mitzvot are those dealing with society as a whole. We must treat our fellow human beings with the same sanctity that we imagine in our relationship to God.

]]> Aaron 2008-04-28T09:16:44-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/04/torah_reading_f.html With the arrival of the seventh day, a Yom Tov, the end of Passover will soon be here. In Israel and for the Reform Jewish community the seventh day is the last day of the holiday while outside Israel in the Conservative and Orthodox communities one additional day is observed. But for all of the people Israel, on the seventh day of Pesach we read and study and celebrate one of the greatest miracles our people have ever witnessed: The splitting of the Sea. The Exodus that we prepared for and sang about at our Seder is not yet complete. We might have recalled the 10 plagues by pouring out ten drops of wine but the Israelites were not yet free from the Egyptians until the seventh day. Though the Children of Israel left, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after our people into the desert. Caught between the Sea and Pharaoh’s army, what were we to do?

]]> Aaron 2008-04-22T10:20:17-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/04/parshat_achrei_1.html The name of our portion this week, Achrei Mot, makes reference to the fact that previously two of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu both priests, died because they came into the Tent of Meeting and offered some type of offering on the altar that was not called for. The tradition teaches that they were inebriated and made a mockery of their sacred duties. Other teachings state that they were trying to co-opt the power of their father, Aaron. While yet other interpretations say that Nadav and Avihu violated the sacred boundary of the Holy of Holies which was only for the High Priest to come to once a year and offered a sacrifice that was not called for and was not in proper form or time. For this they died.

]]> Aaron 2008-04-14T11:24:04-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/04/parshat_metzora_1.html This week our Torah portion, Metzora gives the prescription for the cleansing ceremony of the individual affected by tzaarat. In many Bible translations this word, tzaarat, is inaccurately described as leprosy. But in truth tzaarat is seen by the rabbis as a spiritual malady. Many associate tzaarat as the spiritual effect of gossip and slander. Yet others see this affliction as one that affects those who do not accept God’s authority. The tradition sees this illness and scaly affection as a hardening of the outside as a metaphor for the indifference and lack of care of others and for God. Yet whatever this affliction, following a period of isolation where hopefully the person heals, the priest must come to examine the individual and make sure that the tzaarat is gone. Before the person can re-enter society a cleansing ritual must take place.

]]> Aaron 2008-04-09T08:52:19-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/04/parshat_tazria_1.html This portion in the book of Leviticus begins with some concerns around birth and spiritual purity. No greater gift is ours than the ability to reproduce. Our tradition treats the idea of having children as so important it is even the first commandment of the Torah in the book of Genesis, Be fruitful and multiply, p’ru u’vu it teaches us (Gen:1:28). And yet, in this week’s portion, Tazria, we read about the spiritual state of impurity (tumah) that childbirth renders to the mother. This state of spiritual impurity (tumah) is of a different length whether a male child or female child. But regardless of the gender of the child the mother is not able to enter sacred grounds nor may she touch consecrated or holy things. At first it seems difficult to balance these ideas—the miracle of birth and the gift of a next generation and the commandment to be fruitful and multiply and yet it is that gift and miracle that brings with it a temporary spiritual impurity. How do we balance these two ideas?

]]> Aaron 2008-04-01T14:58:54-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/03/parshat_shemini_3.html Parshat Shemini introduces us to the beginnings of the dietary laws of Judaism. This week’s Torah portion describes the basic rules for keeping kosher. The portion outlines those animals that are permitted to be ritually slaughtered and eaten. Those animals are “those with true hoofs, clefts through the hoof and chews the cud” (Lev. 11:3). Fish “that have fins and scales” (Lev. 11:9) are permitted. But they must have both features. There are several listing of those animals, birds and fish that are not permitted and are seen as unclean including those animals without hoofs: camel rabbits, pigs, and sea creatures with out fins and scales and a variety of birds including the eagle, raven, ostrich, herons, owls and pelicans. Also most insects with the exception of locust, crickets and grasshoppers are forbidden by the Torah.

]]> Aaron 2008-03-24T08:46:53-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/03/parshat_tzav_le_3.html Our Parsha, Tzav continues the explanation of various sacrifices that were introduced in last week’s portion Vayikra. The details of the burnt offering, sin offering, well-being offering, grain offering and atonement offerings are presented and at first glance seem like nothing but a repetition of material we saw last week. But last week’s portion is aimed at the Israelites and what kinds of offerings they bring and for what circumstances, while these instructions in Tzav are directed to the priests about the offerings and what their tasks are in receiving the offering and making the sacrifice on the altar itself.

]]> Aaron 2008-03-18T17:21:19-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/03/parshat_vayikra_1.html We begin this week with the opening chapters of the book of Leviticus, the third book of the Bible. The narrative of the Exodus from Egypt is interrupted to discuss the many kinds of sacrifices that the Children of Israel were to offer in their new Mishkan, their tabernacle. The outlines of various sacrifices are detailed in this week’s portion, Vaykira.

]]> Aaron 2008-03-09T11:11:30-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/03/parshat_pekude.html Our Torah portion Pekude is the last portion of the book of Exodus. With the reading on this Shabbat we conclude the first part of our narrative of freedom. The beginning of the portion is a summation of the building of the Tabernacle. This section records in detail the amounts of gold, silver and copper used in the construction of the various sections of the Tent of Meeting and the instruments of worship. Next it describes the dress of the Priests in detail and when the work was completed our portion says: “Moses blessed them (Ex. 39:43).” Even before the Tabernacle was erected and dedicated, a blessing completed their sacred work. This reminds the craftsmen and builders that their work is more than just executing details of an architectural plan. They have completed a Divine plan! This blessing by Moses also completes a different cycle. Once at the foot of Sinai, the Children of Israel urged Aaron to build a god for them. They brought their jewelry forward and a molten calf was made. They worship before it and broke the covenant they had made with the Eternal. Their sin was grievous. But now they have dedicated their many gifts of gold and silver and copper, yarns and linens and created sacred place for the Shekinah to dwell. Their holy work transformed the Israelites from sinners to partners once again with the Holy One. Thus Moses blessed their work and blessed them.

]]> Aaron 2008-03-03T09:45:35-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/02/parshat_vayakhe.html It seems as if the Torah is repeating itself. This week’s portion echoes Parshat Terumah with the instructions about building the Tabernacle in the desert. Many of the details are repeated here in this Torah portion. But if we look closely at the portion, we will see that in Parshat Terumah—God was speaking to Moses and teaching him the designs of the Ohel Moed. But in this week’s portion Moses in turn now explains the details to the Children of Israel. “Moses said further to the whole community of Israelites: This is what Adonai has commanded” (Ex. 35:4). In Terumah, God told Moses to tell the Israelites to bring gifts and to build the Tabernacle and reveal the details of the design. Now Moses is fulfilling this command of God by gathering the Israelites together to actually accept their free will gifts and bring the skilled workers to execute the unique design of the place the Israelites will meet with God.

]]> Aaron 2008-02-26T09:17:53-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/02/parshat_ki_tisa_2.html After weeks of miraculous interactions with the Divine the Israelites faith wavers. Although they had direct experiences with God at the foot of Sinai the Israelites are quick to forget. When Moses who led them out of Egypt remains for forty days and nights on the mountain they worried that he had disappeared. These slaves are used to taking directions from a prince. But in this case the prince of Egypt, Moses, has gone from before them and Aaron left in charge can not control them. He doesn’t have the force of leadership to inspire the people or to calm them. And he caves in to the Israelites’ demands to make a god for them. Have they forgotten already? The God they experienced with smoke and thunder and blasts of the shofar, the God they experienced who brought plagues upon Egypt and split the Red Sea for them can not be contained in any molten image. Their fears however are only comforted by something they can see and touch. Perhaps Aaron too has doubts about whether Moses will return. And so Aaron makes a statue of a calf and Aaron announces, “These are your gods, O Israel who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (32:4). In what seems like in an instance the Ten Commandments that were given to the Children of Israel that stressed the ideas of no other gods and no graven images are abrogated by both Aaron and the people. Aaron, who will become the high priest, is now the high priest of idolatry, complicit in this sin against God and he shatters the covenant by his actions as do the people.

]]> Aaron 2008-02-19T09:27:23-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/02/parshat_tetzave_3.html It is well known that Parshat Tezaveh makes no mention of Moses by name! Instead the instructions of this portion continue to detail the various important items that will be needed for the sacrificial worship in the Mishkan, the tabernacle in the desert. In particular the details of the robes of the priesthood and the various symbols of the priestly office are described and the instructions for how to make these items are given. Of special note is the Choshen Mishpat—or breastplate of judgment. This special breast covering is to be made of gold, blue purple and crimson yarns and linens. It attached to the ephod a pinafore type cloth worn by the High Priest and set into the choshen mishpat were 12 semi-precious and precious stones each one representing one of the twelve tribe of Israel. Each of the different gemstones had the tribes name to be carved into it. This breastplate of decision or judgment was to be worn by the High Priest, by Aaron, each time he went into the Mishkan as the Torah tells us, “Aaron shall carry the names of the children of Israel on the breast piece of decision over his heart, when he enters the sanctuary for remembrance before Adonai at all times” (Ex. 28:29). Aaron carried the tribes with him reminding him not only did he serve God but he served the people Israel. The Torah teaches us that Aaron wore this over his heart conveying the idea that the High Priest, that Aaron needed to be close to the people. Not an easy task for the Cohen Gadol-for the High Priest who by role and by robe were set apart. Also by wearing the tribes on his chest, because he could enter the holiest precincts of the Mishkan, he brought the people into direct contact with the Divine.

]]> Aaron 2008-02-11T13:38:56-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/02/parshat_terumah_2.html Our parsha outlines the plan for building God’s dwelling place on earth. The Mishkan-the desert Tabernacle and all of its accoutrements – Ark, Menorah, Tent and Poles are described in detail in this week’s Torah portion. God speaks to Moses and tells him to begin the collection of the materials from the people and the initial design is described.

]]> Aaron 2008-02-04T08:59:11-08:00 http://www.kol-ami.org/rabbi/archive/2008/01/parshat_mishpat_3.html Parshat Mishpatim is the portion that follows the giving of the Ten Commandments in Parshat Yitro. According to tradition, these laws and rules, commandments and statutes are a continuation of the details of the law given at Mt. Sinai. Some midrashim tell us that this too was given at Sinai and that the Children of Israel heard these along with the first ten. These laws in Mishpatim detail not only ways in which we are to worship God but give rules for treating the widow and orphan and slaves, the least powerful in society. The laws of Mishpatim deal with laws of injury, morality, and property. These are the initial designs of a new nation.

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