Computer issues again!!!!!

All ready to upload and the file got corrupted...seems to be the story of my life this week.  Trying to fix.  Will post tonight!

P

Vayera 5772: The Good, The Bad and the Very Ugly

Please know that if I miss a week here and there, there are always last year's podcasts to go back to.  They are not the same sound quality and perhaps even the content might not be as good...but I hope they might serve as guides when life gets in the way and I cannot podcast.

The story of Sodom and Gommorah which we read in this week's parasha is full of very ugly and disturbing images.  I did highlight a few of them but as this is a public podcast, I was very "delicate" in describing the images so that innocent ears who hear the podcast won't hear anything too shocking.


Enjoy!

Season 2 has arrived! Bereshit 5772: Human perspective on Creation?

New Podcast on its way.

The second season of Torah Threads will debut shortly!

My computer died...no podcast this week! Sorry!

So sorry...I had to replace my computer and I don't have the new one optimized for podcasts yet..so I will be back with Bereshit on October 17.  

Ki Tavo 5771: Blessings, Thanksgiving and New Beginnings

Please see the photos at http://www.pressconnects.com/ for the devastation suffered by thousands of residents of the Binghtamton Southern Tier area.  Fortunately our farm was well outside of the flooded area.  However, many of our neighbors suffered lots of damage to their farms from the waters as well as from oil tanks that leaked etc.  There are many relief projects going on in the area.  Please consider giving to: Hay for Holly (see the facebook page).  It is a group of people helping raise money to feed the alpaca and sheep this winter for our neighbors Holly and Todd whose farm was flooded and then contaminated by leaky oil tanks and other debris that fell into their land during the flood.  

For more information on tithing or the "maasar" in the Bible see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaser_Rishon, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaser_Sheni.  An interesting view on tithing can be found here:  http://www.pidyon.com/latest-writings/halacha/10-maaser/48-computing-maaser-how-much-tzedakah-charity-do-i-owe.html. 

Ki Tetzei 5771: The Little Things Matter

For a definition and description of Talmud please click on this link:  Talmud..  Information on the Levirate Marriage laws can be found here. Levirate Marriage.  Definition and further explanation of Mamzer, the "unsuitable" can be found here:  Mamzer.

From these few verses in this weeks parasha, hundreds upon hundreds of pages of rules and regulations have evolved.

Sending out blessings and prayers to those commemorating the loss of loved ones on 9/11/2011 as we all mourn those who have died since then as a result of the terror unleashed on that day.

Shoftim 5771: Pursuing Justice Justly

Fabulous article on translating texts by Dr. Joel Hoffman.  It includes references to the cities of refuge which are mentioned yet again in this week's parasha.

Sorry for the barking in the background..but Moonshine and Magnolia were determined to be part of this week's podcast.

Don't forget to go the Torah Threads Ravelry group to join in on the study group forming there.

Reeh 5771: Blessings, Curses, Blessings

Thanks to The Clothed in the Lamb podcast for mentioning me and for sending listeners my way.  Please do visit Itunes and put in a review (a good one I hope) to help others find Torah Threads.  

The image below is based on this week's parasha.  Please read the artist's statement as it beautifully conveys a special part of the Torah portion.  

Andi Arnovitz, USA/Israel

Parshat Re'eh

Parshat Re'eh

Artist Statement

I have always loved this parsha because the fundamentals of the Jewish concept of tzedakah are carefully explained here. Although there are many blessings and curses given, as an artist searching for the most graphic statement in the parsha, I found the "If there shall be a destitute person among you, any of your brethren in any of your cities, in the land that Hashem your G-d gives you, you shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your destitute brother. Rather, you shall open your hand to him; you shall lend him his requirement, whatever is lacking to him."

In this piece I worked in layers, symbolizing the many layers of understanding and interpretation that exist in the Torah. I have used the image of the hamsa, so prevalent here in Jerusalem, to represent the hand open in giving. I have sewn them, but left the tops open so they could actually hold money. Hanging from these hands are all the categories of obligation to which an individual is required to give charity. (From the Kitzer Shuchan Aruch. These include the orphan and widow, the poor of Jerusalem, the captive and the schools. All require our attention.

Ekev 5771: Fertility and Fidelity

This is the Parsha Cake Blogs' Ekev cake showing the all the good things with which the Israelites will be blessed when they enter the promised land.  2 questions:  Which verse does this refer to?  What are the species depicted?



We send our condolence to the families of those killed at the Indiana State Fair and prayers of healing to those who were injured.

Vaetchanan 5771: Loving God and Being Holy

For Information on the laws and customs of the Mezuzah see:

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Life_Stages/Building_a_Jewish_Home/Home_and_Community/Mezuzah.shtml.  You can also see an interesting Cartoon Video explaining how to hang a Mezuzah.
For a story on a legal case about a Mezuzah see:  http://www.myshtetl.co.za/media/expatriatenews/usa/texas-enacts-law-defend-mezuzot

Notice the large "ayin" letter at the tip of the "yad" the pointer, and the large "dalet" at the end of the same line.  These to letters make the Hebrew word "AYD" or witness.  Which reminds us to use this phrase to bear witness to The Eternal God.


Please write me if you are interested in getting together at the Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck NY for Shabbat Dinner.

Devarim 5771: Moses' First Speech--Historical Review and Revisionism

Wikipedia gives a general introduction to the background and the structure of the Book of Deuteronomy.  It is well worth reading it or the introduction to the book from any of the major Jewish commentaries such as the Plaut, Eitz Hayyim, the JPS or the Hertz Pentateuch to keep track of the themes and content as this sometimes gets lost in some of the details given. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Deuteronomy

You will also notice a different tone in the language.  We will talk about that more when we get to the poetic sections.

Massei 5771: Settlements, Cities of Refuge & Zelophehad Redux

The details of the wanderings of the Jews may be seen in this map.




This map lists the allotments given to the 11 tribes.  The tribe of Levi was given a holding in a portion of each of the other tribes' land.  6 cities were also created to be cities of refuge.

These details were recorded to make certain that there would not be disputes between the tribes over the borders of their holdings.

Mattot 5771: Vows, Vengeance and Valor

On the subject of vows I should mention:

People were so concerned about the possibility that they might not be able to completely fulfill vows they made tt that in later years the Kol Nidrei prayer was created to annul vows. This was highly controversial among the Jewish people.  The rabbis were concerned that people might be more inclined to make vows that they had no intention of keeping.  Others feared that people wouldn't trust the word of Jews if they thought that they could nullify a vow on Yom Kippur through the Kol Nidrei.  For more information on Kol Nidrei and vows see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kol_Nidre

Pinchas 5771: Zealots, Women's Rights and Passing the Torch

Pinchas 5771: Zealots, Women's Rights and Passing the Torch

This link will take you to a wonderful page explaining the special writing that is characteristic of this parasha in the Torah Scroll. 

http://hatam-soferet.dreamwidth.org/443763.html

SORRY TO HAVE DISAPPEARED...but coming back this week

Dear Everyone:

I have had to take a bit of a break to attend to some family and personal health issues...but all is well and Torah Threads will have a new episode on Sunday, July 10.

P

Behar 5771: Sabbaticals and Jubilees

For information on the Shemita project of Hazon and the Jewish Farm School use this link http://shmitaproject.jimdo.com/. For more information on Rabbi Hillel's ruling to make the jubilee "easier" look at the following resources:   http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Prozbul, http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/svara/svara_2-2_schiff.pdf, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prozbul

P

Emor 5771: Priestly Responsibilities, Holidays and Blasphemy

This week I put a challenge before everyone to read the sections about the holidays and to write me with the things you notice are different about holidays and how they celebrated today versus the way they are described in these sections of the bible.

You can email your answers to me at:  torahthreads@gmail.com.

If you are going to be at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival please email me as we can meet up there.

Kedoshim 5771: The Holiness Code and Holy Threads

Some interesting articles about Shatnez can be found here:  http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/2011/01/shatnez-dr-pepper-so-misunderstood/

http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/39728/shatnez-shock/

I especially like the second article which gives the reason that wool and linen should not be mixed is because wool shrinks and linen does not shrink, makes one wonder if all of the biblical authors were actually hand spinners?  As I mention in the podcast, I think there are other reasons as well that we are supposed to refrain from mixing wool and linen.

I have also included some fun images from the world of Shatnez.  

Happy Pesach!

Dear all:

There is no regular Torah portion for this week only the special readings for the holiday, most of which, since they come from the book of Exodus, I have already recorded.  You might enjoy going back and listening to those sections to review.   This also gives me another week to try to repair my broken microphone!

The Torah Portion for this shabbat is: Exodus 33:12 - 34:26 & Numbers 28:19 - 28:25.

Hag Kasher V'Sameach.  A happy holiday to all.