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.

TZAV 5771: Offerings, Ordination and Afterlife

Offerings, Ordination and Afterlife.

Congratulations to Heather Ordover of Craftlit.com for reaching her 200^th episode.  Heather inspired me to start Torah Threads and is a wonderful literature teacher.  I have truly grown in my understanding of literature through her podcasts. 

Vayikra 5771: Of offerings, sacrifices and community building

Vayikra 5771:  Of offerings, sacrifices and community building

For more background on the book of Leviticus you can read:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Leviticus

I also strongly suggest getting The Torah:  A Modern Commentary by Rabbi Gunther Plaut.  These sections of Leviticus are really well explained by Rabbi Plaut.

Ki Tissa 5771: Of Golden Calves and Glowing Presences

Sorry I am so late this week!

For more on Michaelangelo's depiction of horns based on the mis-translation of the Hebrew word referring to "rays" of light rather than "horns of light" see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_%28Michelangelo%29
For more detailed discussion on the origins of the golden calf see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_calf.

Tetzaveh 5771: Priestly Fibers

For More information about Priestly Garb look at: 

The Temple Institute detailed drawings and descriptions

http://www.templeinstitute.org

For more information on the Urim & Thummim  look at the Jewish Encyclopedia

http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=52&letter=U&search=urim%20thumim

For more information on why the words Urim and Thummim appear in Hebrew on the Seal of Yale University look at: 

http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/seal.html

Mishpatim 5771: Laws, Moral and Community Building

For more information about the Code of Hammurabi created approximately in 1700 BCE please see the following article.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi

A brief explanation of Jewish law as it is practiced today and its development into “Halacha” can be found here.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halakha

SULAM-LI:  The Religious School for Jewish Children with Special Needs Klezmer Concert and Dance party featuring Alicia Svigals’ Klezmer Fiddle Express and Dance Master Steven Weintraub will be on Sunday, February 6, 2011, at 1:00 PM.  Details can be found at SULAM-LI.org.

Bo 5771: Pesach, Matzah, Maror

Links to stories about the Samaritan Passover sacrifice which retains the traditions established in this week’s parasha for the Passover offering. 

http://www.haaretz.com/news/ancient-samaritan-sect-marks-passover-sacrifice-near-nablus-1.219497

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3394699,00.html

In the Passover Haggadah we are told in addition to mentioning the objects on the Seder plate, we have to make certain to mention, Matzah, Maror and Pesach (the Passover offering).  This is derived from this week’s parasha.

Trivia Question:  What do we put on the doorposts of our houses today that also commemorates an act that takes place in this week’s parasha?

Are you a bread maven?  Do you know anything about grains and their chemical reaction to rising agents?  If so please be in touch, I have a question for you!

VaEra 5771: A God by Any Other Name

Vaera 5771:  A God by Any Other Name

A good summary about the different names of God can be found in this Wikipedia article.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Judaism

Please also consider listening to Forgotten Classics by Julie D.  There is an episode in the Notes to the Reader,  the introduction to Robert Alter’s translation of Genesis, which contains a discussion of the names of God in Genesis.  You can find Forgotten Classics on Itunes or you can follow the link here.  http://hcforgottenclassics.blogspot.com/2010/09/episode-136-genesis-note-to-reader-1.html  There are additional “note to the Reader” episodes which also have very interesting information about the Bible in general, issues of translation and the names of God.  Please note that Julie does not speak Hebrew and tries very hard to spell words instead of mispronouncing them.  It makes it a little harder to listen to, but her devotion to accuracy is impressive!

Please listen to and look at the show notes for Parshat Noah to hear more about the names of God and their connection to the different editorial strands of the text.

Portable recording devices anyone?  Suggestions for the best one to use on the fly.  Donations towards its purchase are greatly appreciated.

Names for our ram?  We have a new Tunis ram still waiting for a name.  Suggestions? 

What does God stiffening Pharaoh’s heart mean?  Is there a difference between the times the text tells us that God stiffened Pharaoh’s heart versus the times it simply states that Pharaoh hardened his own heart?

Comments please!

P.S.  Happy Secular New Year to all. 

Shemot 5771: Bushes and Bricks

Not much to note this week, though I am certain I missed saying something.  I am a big supporter of midwifery and natual childbirth, so I have always connected to the story of Shiphrah and Puah and their bravery! 

P